THE digital and technology industry is growing apace in Yorkshire – particularly in the cities of Leeds and Sheffield. It’s a sector with jobs aplenty.
The problem, according to the businesses gathered around the discussion table at TheBusinessDesk.com’s event, held at Genus Law’s offices in Leeds, is being able to fill those jobs with skilled people.
Stuart Clarke has just left his role as marketing director of a digital marketing agency and is head of operations at digital start-up Synap, which uses scientific insights into how the brain works to enhance the way students learn through an app and website. A member of the Leeds Digital board, he attended its first meeting last month.
“Sky Bet, Sky and William Hill were there – just those three companies alone had about 500 really good tech jobs unfulfilled. That’s before you talk about Asda, HSS, The Test People… the list goes on.
“How do we make sure that resource is coming in to fill those jobs and how do we all work with the universities? Of the top universities Leeds has one of the worst retention rates for students. How as employers do we keep London calling them there so they can see they can build their whole career here?” he asks.
Andy Burton, chief technology officer at online betting company Sky Bet, which already employs 800 staff, adds that the problem is not just holding Leeds back but also northern counterpart Manchester.
“There is a massive gap between demand and supply,” he says.
There is some optimism that as the London market continues to overheat the city’s pull will lessen, and people will be more drawn to regional cities in the north.
Clarke is working to bring to the region start-ups in London, who have benefited from the funding and the infrastructure and support there.
“When they get to a certain size it is hard to expand in London so we want to bring them up here. We have space and cheaper office and residential accommodation,” he says.
Tracsis’ John McArthur says the company attracts people who could work in banks or Google in London but choose to come to Yorkshire because they don’t want the commute.
“We are on a par in terms of what we offer but not with the money. We advertise the other softer aspects of coming to Leeds in terms of mobility and value for money. But for hardnosed skills in maths, physics, computer science – when it is purely for money, we still get killed by London.”
Sally Smithies, director at leadership and management firm Red Sky, suggests that people often go to London to kick-start their careers but do come back.
“People are training in London with big banks or accountancy firms because the perception is that it is still the best training you can have and that it will set you up. But then does the gloss wear off after a while and they track back for a better lifestyle?”
James Waterhouse, chief executive of Deal Connections suggests similar attitudes exist when it comes to the search for start-up funding.
“With technology funding the ones you hear about are rock stars. For every one you hear about there are 100,000 playing the pubs and clubs and a million in their bedroom. It is not the case – but there is that perception amongst younger people with an idea that if they go to London they can raise money like this.”
But Clarke insists it is easier to raise funds in London, having just been through the process with Synap, which successfully raised more than £180,000.
“[It] has just gone through CrowdFunding with CrowdCube and that worked really well – we struggled to get funding within Leeds. We got 130-odd investors who put in decent amounts of money and have now become advocates for the business,” he says.
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Tracsis’ John McArthur says the company attracts people who could work in banks or Google in London but choose to come to Yorkshire because they don’t want the commute.
