New digital supremo on a Northern mission

TECH NORTH, the champions of Northern digital business, have had a rocky start to life.

Announced in October 2014 by former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg, the organisation was intended to spearhead the Government’s ambitious plans to double the number of technology jobs in the North to 400,000.

It was given £2m by the Government to create an ecosystem of technology clusters around Leeds, Sheffield, Manchester, Liverpool and Newcastle.

But in January 2016, six months after taking on the role, Claire Braithwaite stepped down, leaving a hole at the top of the organisation.

Incoming director Richard Gregory has spent the majority of his working life in agencies, with on-the-ground experience, which won the board over after an arduous interview process, totalling nine interview meetings.

For the past 12 years he has grown Manchester-based Latitude Digital Marketing where he was chief operations officer before becoming managing director two years ago.

Gregory co-founded the Search, Analytics & Social Conference, and worked with Manchester Digital Council, growing his profile in the industry.

“It was a bit of an evolution, and it got me very curious to see how I could help other digital businesses, and grow industry in the North, for the North,” he said.

“Tech North has a vital mission, and they needed the right person to charge up technology industry.

“The  team has introduced good initiatives already,” he said. One such initiative is the Northern Stars competition, the second of which was launched this week.

The pitch competition will identify top technology startups and give them access to “profile raising” opportunities.

He said: “We need to listen more to the marketplace. Two weeks before I began in the role, the UK decided to leave the EU – a fairly seismic change to say the least.

“What it says to me is that Tech North has never been needed more than now. We want to help the industry navigate the Brexit. With a new Prime Minister in place there will be more clarity on the situation.

A recent survey from parent organisation Tech City showed the concerns of the industry – raising funding, profile and skills, issues which are arguably even more prevalent in the North.

Gregory said: “We want to make sure that everyone is represented and share the love. It will be difficult. We have resources but they are finite. We’ve got to balance the workload and presence in cities along the way.

“The reality is we have seven Tech Nation clusters, some more developed than others with each starting to find their own focus. Specialisms are self-propagating, a place becomes known for it and then you attract the relevant businesses and graduates.”

Despite the growth of the digital and technology sectors across the North, confidence seems to be wavering. The cutting of BBC North as its own division was a blow to the regions, which has led MPs to question London’s commitment to the growth of the Northern digital economy.

Gregory said: “We get preoccupied with things like that, we’ve got to let the results speak for themselves. Part of my job is to be a good storyteller and the magic happens in between the cities as well as in them. Focusing on the positives is much more beneficial.”

In a few years, Tech North might become like other organisations and have to go through a funding process, but that he was fully prepared to do so.
“We have runway and will only be getting bigger and better,” he said.