Deloitte research highlights North West’s ‘world-leading’ TMT sector

The technology, media and telecommunications (TMT) sector is flourishing in the North West, according to new research from Deloitte.

The professional services firm’s data has found that six TMT clusters across the region currently account for 640 businesses and maintain 10,225 jobs.

Deloitte first identified six North West TMT hubs in 2012: MediaCityUK, Manchester Science Partnerships and The Sharp Project in Manchester; Sci-Tech Daresbury, near Runcorn and Warrington; the RopeWalks/Baltic Triangle area of Liverpool; and Liverpool Science Park.

The biggest of the six hotspots, according to Deloitte, is MediaCityUK, which today is home to 250 businesses employing around 7,000 people.

The Manchester Science Partnerships campus, meanwhile, accounts for 75 businesses and 1,200 jobs in the centre of Manchester, with those figures growing by 15 companies and 330 jobs across all of the organisation’s sites.

Elsewhere, Liverpool’s growing RopeWalks and Baltic Triangle areas are now collectively home to 120 enterprises employing 740 members of staff. Liverpool Science Park, likewise, houses 35 TMT firms with 185 staff.

Deloitte also found that 100 TMT businesses are maintaining 600 jobs at Sci-Tech Daresbury, while 60 firms employing 480 people are currently operating at The Sharp Project.

Deloitte’s TMT partner for the North West, Jodi Birkett, said of the findings: “It’s hugely encouraging to see figures like these and shows that the region is a great place to do TMT business.

“The TMT sector is a fantastic North West asset, with hundreds of businesses doing truly world-leading work.

“MediaCityUK continues to go from strength to strength as companies flock to capitalise on the media giants based there, but the smaller clusters are also thriving, showing that significant success in the TMT industry isn’t just being confined to established areas.”

She continued: “Of course we mustn’t forget that these hotspots are also complemented by major regional players across our cities, creating a rich ecosystem of TMT innovation.”

Speaking further, Jodi said the North West’s TMT sector can play “a significant role” in the success of the Northern Powerhouse.

She added: “With continued focus on nurturing collaborative, inspirational arenas for digital, creative and technology businesses, the North West can be a real centre of TMT excellence.”