Invest in digital and new media in Yorkshire & Humber

After London, Yorkshire & Humber is the fastest-growing region in the digital and new media sector. We have a strong infrastructure, a great supply chain, and plenty of incentives to invest here. For more information, visit the Invest in Yorkshire website.

Sector size and scope

The sector employs over 123,000 people, including 18,006 self-employed and freelancers. More then 13,000 businesses in this sector in our region add almost £5.25bn of gross value.

The electronics industries alone employ nearly 25,000 people here, generating annual sales of £3.8bn and contributing £1.7bn towards the region’s GVA.

12% of the UK’s electronic games developers work here, in 35 world-leading development studios. And some of the Europe’s largest procurers of e-learning technology & content are based here, including the University for Industry (Ufi)—the UK’s largest commissioner of e-learning.

Skills on tap

The region offers access to over 52,000 graduates and postgraduates each year, and 9% of the UK's total electronics graduates. With considerably lower living costs than London, many workers choose our region over the capital.

We’re investing in this sector

Yorkshire Forward has made digital and new media a ‘priority sector’; targeting investments to help the industry innovate, grow and compete for the future. You can find out about several of our programmes by following that link.

We employ a sector manager and ‘strategic sector champion’ for digital and new media, helping to identify opportunities for innovation through collaboration, and brokering relationships between businesses and the science base. Call Yorkshire Forward on 0113 394 9600 to find out about land availability, special projects and more.

A strong infrastructure

Yorkshire & Humber has 100% broadband enablement, and is leading the UK in the deployment of next-generation access (NGA) of fibre broadband (at speeds of up to 24Mbs). More than a third of the UK’s internet traffic is routed through Leeds.

The region is also part of a new and developing secure data network called Northern Net, providing a minimum of 100Mbs fibre connectivity for the delivery of large and sensitive data files securely from point to point.

Dedicated business incubation centres

There are several business incubation centres across Yorkshire & Humber to support businesses in this sector:

• Barnsley Digital Media Centre
• The Media Centre, Huddersfield
  
• The Round Foundry, Leeds
• The Workstation, Sheffield
  

Working with the universities

Strong relationships exist in our region between the research institutes and businesses in this sector. Yorkshire Forward has also set up the Digital Printing CIC (Centre of Industrial Collaboration), the Wireless Technologies CIC and the Design Futures CIC to foster partnership working between business and the region’s universities. Find out more about collaborating with our universities.

Funding & support

We welcome investment enquiries from UK and overseas companies. You may be able to find funding support in our funding for business section, our business support page, and our priority sectors section. If you’re an overseas business interested in investing in Yorkshire & Humber, please also read our inward investment page.