Tech Nation 2016

Tech Nation 2016 is a report by Nesta and Tech City UK, produced in partnership with GrowthIntel. The most comprehensive analysis of the UK’s digital tech industries to date, Tech Nation 2016 underlines the economic importance of digital tech businesses, which are growing 32% faster than the rest of the UK economy.

With more than 2,000 respondents from digital businesses across the country also contributing insights, the latest iteration of Tech Nation showcases the continued growth and evolution of the UK’s digital tech economy.

Summary

Digital tech businesses are at the heart of the UK economy and are playing an important role in driving growth. The impact of this dynamic sector is profound, predicated on a fundamental belief in innovation and doing things differently. Digital tech businesses are transforming the employment landscape, driving productivity, and reimagining traditional industries.

To get a comprehensive insight into digital employment, Nesta and Tech City UK analysed data from Government, job advertisements and official ONS data, allowing us to understand the impact of the digital technology economy on wider business, employment, and economic trends.

The findings of this report shows the continued growth of digital tech clusters. These findings are focused upon the areas where digital technology businesses are having the greatest impact: economic growth, employment, productivity and the digital disruption of traditional industries.

At the heart of Tech Nation 2016 is a detailed overview of the sector specialisms, benefits and challenges in 27 notable digital tech clusters across the country. Details of the unique DNA of each cluster sit alongside headline statistics around employment, turnover and average salaries. This is designed to compare and contrast the key digital tech clusters that shape our Tech Nation.

The report also turns its eyes to the sectors in which the UK is excelling. Ultimately, Tech Nation 2016 demonstrates a Digital Tech Economy that is transforming British business for individuals, cities and the country as a whole. We hope this landmark report is an invaluable resource for the network of professionals, entrepreneurs, investors and policymakers that make up the digital tech community.

Authors

Nesta and Tech City UK

Authors

Juan Mateos-Garcia

Juan Mateos-Garcia

Juan Mateos-Garcia

Director of Data Analytics Practice

Juan Mateos-Garcia was the Director of Data Analytics at Nesta.

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Hasan Bakhshi

Hasan Bakhshi

Hasan Bakhshi

Director, Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre

Hasan oversaw Nesta's creative economy policy, research and practical work.

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