Middlesbrough has cemented itself as the leading tech hub outside of London, according to the latest 2024 UK Tech Jobs Report.
Ranking sixth overall in the UK, with a strong score of 80.07, Middlesbrough is also recognised as the country’s fastest-growing tech destination, reinforcing its position as a key player in the country’s rapidly expanding technology landscape.
While currently home to 165 tech firms, a figure lower than other leading areas, Middlesbrough’s sector is growing at a rate of 13.79% – the highest growth rate in the country.
This surge demonstrates that Middlesbrough is increasingly being seen as a tech hub, attracting both startups and established companies looking to leverage its growing infrastructure and talent pool.
Despite tech jobs representing a smaller portion of the local workforce (2.7%), recent data shows that tech salaries are on the rise in Middlesbrough, with an 8.46% pay increase reported.
In addition to its booming tech sector, the report by Eskimoz said that Middlesbrough offers an excellent work-life balance, with residents enjoying a short average daily commute distance of just 56,434 km per year. This makes the town particularly attractive for tech professionals seeking career growth and quality of life.
By ranking first outside of London – behind only City of London, Westminster, Camden, Hackney and Islington – Middlesbrough continues to draw attention as a top destination for tech firms and professionals alike.
With a combination of rapid growth, rising wages and excellent living conditions, the report adds that the town “is poised to become one of the UK’s most sought-after locations for tech innovation”.
Middlesbrough’s local tech successes include global games developers Double Eleven, who occupy the entirety of the impressive Boho X building (pictured) in Middlesbrough, fellow games gurus Radical Forge, who have twice been named as one of the region’s fastest growing businesses in the annual VelociTees awards, and 2024 Tees Tech Company of the Year Behaviour UK, based in the town but part of the Canadian games giant.
The town is also base to SaaS (sales as a service) specialists Salesfire – whose CEO Rich Himsworth was Business Leader of the Year at both the Tees Tech Awards and Tees Business Awards in 2023 – and ITS, one of Europe’s most respected automation and management information system providers, founded by former Tees Tech Business Leader Malcolm Knott.
The wider Teesside area includes eCommerce software solutions specialists Visualsoft, software solutions firm Fitfactory, whose CEO Jason Pritchard is the reigning Tees Tech Business Leader, 2024 Tees Tech Small Business of the Year Tricore Technical Services, a powerhouse in digital solutions and specialist offshore installations, and energy data specialist EnAppSys, another past winner of the Tees Tech Company of the Year accolade.
