<\/span>\u00a0What\u2019s driving it<\/span><\/h2>\nSeveral factors seem to underpin this rise:<\/p>\n
\n- Entrepreneurial resilience despite headwinds<\/strong>: The RSM commentary notes that tech entrepreneurs in the North West appear to be adapting to continued uncertainty (inflation, supply-chain disruption, shifting regulation) and \u201cgetting on with\u201d founding new ventures rather than waiting for conditions to stabilise. (Liverpool Chamber of Commerce<\/a>)<\/li>\n
- Regional ecosystem strength<\/strong>: The North West (particularly around cities such as Manchester and Liverpool) has built up a tech\/startup ecosystem: universities, incubators, accelerators, co-working hubs, and VC presence. For instance, a white paper noted that Liverpool has seen a 657 % increase in VC investment since 2019. (Kao Data<\/a>)<\/li>\n
- Cost & talent advantages relative to London<\/strong>: While London remains dominant, many start-ups are choosing regions like the North West because of lower overheads, and good access to tech talent, particularly with nearby universities. Some earlier figures (2020\/21) already showed the North West outpacing national average growth in new business creation. (UKTN<\/a>)<\/li>\n
- Policy \/ infrastructure support<\/strong>: While not always explicitly singled out in the data, the growth suggests that regional\/ national policy \u2014 e.g., support for R&D, urban-regeneration, digital hubs \u2014 may be playing a role. The interplay of cost, talent, and infrastructure is likely facilitating the rise.<\/li>\n
- Shift to decentralised tech geography<\/strong>: There is a broader UK-tech trend of growth outside London and the South East. The North West appears to be a beneficiary of this \u201cregional tech growth\u201d shift.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n