It’s thumbs up for digital
PLANS to inject £2bn into the North-east economy by bolstering the region’s digital industry have been welcomed by a creative specialist on Teesside.
The ambitious strategy, which will see the public, private and education sectors work together, will seek to speed the North-east beyond the national average in terms of digital credentials and onto the international stage.
The region currently falls behind other parts of the country when it comes to the proportion of its businesses prospering online, while there is also considerable room for improvement in the effective use of technology, according to recent research.
However, regional development agency One North East is hoping to redress the region’s digital shortcomings with its seven-year master plan.
The strategy has been set out to add 1.5% or £600m to the region’s economy by bringing the North-east up to speed with the national average in the digital stakes.
Meanwhile, the report says that the regional economy could be grown by 3.8%, or £1.5bn, through more effective use of technology across all businesses.
Within the strategy, which will be fleshed out in more detail between now and March, are plans to develop a pipeline of new and interlinked digital businesses and a commitment to increase the digital skills pool.
The ideas have been given the thumbs-up by Mark Elliott, director of DigitalCity Business - a key organisation driving the development of Middlesbrough’s digital Boho cluster.
“One North East has done fantastically well,” he said. “Money alone won’t bring people to the area, but the region now has a package of possibilities for people - including good innovation, skills and investment opportunities.”
One North East also aims to ensure the region meets the national broadband targets set out by the Government’s Digital Britain report and promote the benefits of digital technology to businesses. According to Government research, around 25% of North-east businesses do not currently use the internet, compared with the national average of 19%.
It is hoped the One North East plan, which involves collaboration with digital industry bodies such as Codeworks and the region’s universities, will encourage more businesses to trade online.
Digital media and creative industries are a key strand of the Great North Revolution (GNR), launched by the Evening Gazette and the CBI to map out a strategy for growing the regional economy.
Creative industries are worth £1.1bn to the North-east economy and employ 35,000 people, while creative firms in Tees Valley are set to generate more than 9,000 jobs in the next five years.
Earlier this month Margaret Fay, chair of One North East, praised a digital movement that she said was “creating jobs throughout the whole region”. She urged other firms to jump on the creative bandwagon and said “the smart use of digital technology” could add an extra £2bn a year to the regional economy.
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