You could say that Glasgow has gone through some radical changes over the years. Even more so with the former industrial powerhouse being now recognised as one of the most important tech hubs on the planet right now.
This is especially the case where business, investment and trade are concerned. Universities in Glasgow and further afield have played a key role in the city becoming a tech heavyweight, with spinout companies cropping up in their numbers.
As a tech hub, Glasgow represents a range of sectors, and this has been important in the city’s continued growth. From space technology with companies such as Alba Orbital and Clyde Space, right through to social networking and e-commerce, you’re sure to find a diverse selection of tech firms operating within Scotland’s second largest City. Brightree, Hewlett-Packard and JP Morgan go down as the most notable firms in the area, with all three heavyweights in their sectors.
Furthermore, Glasgow is a superb city for start-ups too, with 331 start-up births recorded, and with a tech sector that has 81% of growth potential, it’s the ideal place for companies just starting out. That is not to say that other parts of the UK are not seeing new innovative companies being launched. As even in the West Midlands, has a history of successful start-ups making their mark, with ambitious tech firms like Intouch Games Limited being recognised as Digital Business of the Year at the 2018 West Midlands Tech Awards.
However, Glasgow just seems to have everything to make life easier for businesses to proper. So, start-ups and entrepreneurs have great support in Glasgow, with companies such as Creative Clyde helping to promote the creative industries in the city, while there are meet-ups which include Code Craft, Glasgow PHP and Maklab.
In fact, Glasgow was declared the European Entrepreneurial Region of 2016, and since then it has gone from strength to strength. The city saw the creation of a brand new tech festival called Techaus, while a new co-working space by the name of Think Tank was developed. One of Scotland’s finest digital skills academies in CodeClan also made the move into Glasgow, with one eye on the future. The Tontine, one of the city’s most iconic buildings, is now a centre for tech innovation, with the hope for it to help develop in excess of 130 companies over a 5-year period.
Moving forward, Glasgow will become the Innovation District, in what is a first for Scotland. Academia, business and government sectors are expected to come together to help support the growth of other sectors such as engineering and health. The Innovation District will be spread across three areas – the Innovation Building at Scottish Enterprise, Strathclyde University’s Tech and Innovation Centre, and the Tontine Building.
As a tech hub, the future certainly looks bright for Glasgow, and therefore for Scotland as a result. It’s a great time to get involved in the many sectors that come under the tech umbrella, with in excess of 26,000 people employed so far. With the high growth potential, the tech sector has, that number is only going to rise.
Glasgow is a tech heavyweight that continues to flourish, supporting both start-ups as well as firms active on a global scale. Having the right people located in the area, be it skilled graduates or professionals, has been a draw for the latter, a trend which is likely to continue moving forward.