Midlands Investment success stories: Cyber & Data Technology

The cyber and digital sectors are changing at rapid pace, but the Midlands is proving itself equal to the challenge. Growing clusters across the region are driving innovative responses to modern opportunities and difficulties, with the cyber and data science sector alone representing £10.5bn in GVA and 128,700 jobs. With Creative Quarters established across six cities, a ‘Cyber Valley’ community that is home to the highest concentration of cyber businesses in the UK outside of London, and Warwickshire’s ‘Silicon Spa’ cluster responsible for 25% of the UK’s video game development output, the Midlands has been establishing itself as the place to be. 

East Midlands tech start ups

Did you know… the number of East Midlands tech company start-ups jumped by 20% in 2023 compared to the year before, from 1,358 to 1,627 according to analysis by RSM UK. 

“From cyber security and artificial intelligence to data analytics and fintech, businesses in the region are pushing boundaries, helping the UK lead the way in the global tech market…the region continues to be a beacon for technological innovation and entrepreneurial spirit” – Sheetal Sanghvi, RSM Nottingham 

Cyber innovation at Space Park Leicester

In 2021, Space Park Leicester, a £100m University of Leicester-led facility, welcomed AST SpaceMobile for its UK Headquarters. The American company is building a space-based cellular broadband network directly accessible by mobile phones – the first of its kind – and will benefit from the existing expertise in applying satellite technology at the University of Leicester.

Meanwhile, in 2022 Canadian IT and business consultancy CGI also announced a new office at the Space Park, to host 40 staff and work on its ‘Earth Observation’ apps programmes, satellite communications and space ground segment software and systems. 

Photo: Space Park Leicester

Thousands of new tech jobs in the West Midlands

Significant investments from five innovative global companies – Version 1, Novocomms Group, Petalite, Aubay Group, and Primacy – were announced in October last year, bringing over 1,000 new jobs to the Birmingham region.

In addition to those investments, originating in countries such as France and Singapore, a number of Indian tech companies have chosen to expand across the region, from Tata Elxsi already recruiting over 100 new technology jobs at its Coventry-based Design Hub to Hexaware Technologies creating 250 jobs at its new facility in Birmingham. 

This follows a well-established connection between the region and India. India’s leading digital IT transformation company, Microland, launched its state-of-the-art Digital Hub in Birmingham in 2020, serving as its European Headquarters. It hosts 200 jobs in cloud and data centre transformation, cybersecurity, and various other innovative digital services. 

“The West Midlands was an obvious choice for us. The area has become an epicentre for technology, with a vibrant ecosystem of major companies, access to technically skilled, digital talent and world-class infrastructure.” – Pradeep Kar, Founder, Chairman and Managing Director, Microland 

Elsewhere in the region, Solihull is the location of the UK Telecoms Lab in October 2023, with 50 skilled tech jobs expected to be created by March 2025 and representing £80 in investment. The National Physical Laboratory will run the site on behalf of DSIT, with the aim to act as a secure research facility for testing key network infrastructure and software, championing cybersecurity and mitigating national security risks.  

£21m new data centre in Worcester

Ionos, the German hosting services provider, chose Worcester Six Business Park for its newest data centre, moving around 10,000 servers to the location. The new facility is state-of-the-art, providing more sustainable and secure data storage within a 43,700 sq ft site.

For more information on opportunities in the Midlands’ cyber and digital sectors, visit the Midlands Investment Portfolio, read our Cyber and Digital & Creative Cluster Snapshots, or check out the R&D Investment Prospectus. You might also be interested in the Cyber Security Innovation, Digital Technologies and Video Games pages hosted by our partners at the West Midlands Growth Company.