THE DIGITAL WHY THE SECTOR

While 2020 was a difficult year for business and the economy, with the challenge The Tees Valley is fast becoming one of the most vibrant digital hubs in the UK, of the COVID-19 pandemic creating personal and economic hardship across the with a successful and self-sustaining digital media, technology and creative cluster globe, the UK tech sector has demonstrated its resilience. Recent data shows developing a worldwide reputation for creativity, imagination and vision. the sector is making positive steps to recovery through continued growth and job creation, with job vacancies up 50% by the end of 2020 since the lowest point in The Boho Zone is at the digital and visual effects and games that attracts The Tees Valley is an area on the up July of that year. creative heart of the Tees Valley. big-name players from top studios with the recent announcement of the It provides business space for new across the world, including Disney, Teesside Freeport, bringing with it digital companies to grow, network Pixar, Sony and DreamWorks. thousands of jobs and the potential The latest report for Tech Nation found that the digital of digital businesses up 15% over the past four years, and do business. Situated in the for dozens of global investors. sector is growing nearly six times faster than other compared to 8% nationally. Employment in the region is also centre of Middlesbrough, it is a With a growing creative cluster comes The opportunities that come with industries. The sector contributes £149billion annually up, with a 13% increase over the past four years, compared genuine creative hub where new an increasingly skilled workforce and this for the digital sector cannot be to the national economy, employing 2.9million people. to 6% nationally. There were more than 1,900 job vacancies and established businesses can the region is responsible for developing overstated. Our manufacturing sector The number of tech businesses in the UK worth more in the sector in 2020, representing a 20% increase on the collaborate. and publishing games such as those is embracing transformation by than $250million is the highest on record (95) and previous year, with the impact of COVID-19 creating a rise in the Minecraft series through adopting digital tools and innovation. 45% of these high-value businesses are based outside in digital opportunities in the region. Teesside University is a key part of the Middlesbrough-based Double Eleven. of London. region’s digital offer. Its DigitalCity is Animmersion’s DeepFrame One, a The Tees Valley has everything a tech The pandemic has caused major shifts in the way we live the driver for the sector, as it supports unique revolutionary mixed-reality company needs and more, so to find In the Tees Valley there are around 650 digital businesses and work and there has never been a better time to invest digital growth and transformation display, headlined the Great Exhibition out how you can invest here get in with more than 8,000 people employed in digital roles. in this fast-growing sector. across the region. The university is of the North in 2018. Teesside touch via [email protected] Growth is particularly strong here, with the number also responsible for holding the annual University itself currently has more Animex festival, one of the world’s than 1,200 students studying digital biggest and most highly respected courses, ensuring a pipeline of talent international festivals of animation, in the region.

2 Invest Tees Valley | Digital Invest Tees Valley | Digital 3 LOCATION

The Tees Valley is made up of five distinct boroughs, Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar & Cleveland and Stockton-on-Tees. It is home to almost 700,000 Hartlepool Port people, an international airport and the deepest water port on the east coast of England. A19 It has a reputation for excellence in innovation and industry and is home to Britain’s Hartlepool biggest freeport as well as the Government’s new Northern Economic Campus Teesworks

The Tees Valley’s central location centres such as York, Leeds and Teesport means it is perfectly placed for Manchester. investment. Situated on the east coast between London and Edinburgh, The region is served by excellent there is easy access to the whole of transport links and has some of the Stockton-on-Tees the UK via the strategic road and rail least congested roads in the UK. Darlington Middlesbrough Redcar & Cleveland network. There are half-hourly rail With nearly 99% superfast services to London, arriving in less broadband coverage, it also A66 than two and a half hours, Edinburgh has some of the best A1 Eaglesclie is two hours away and there is digital connectivity in also easy access to Birmingham. the UK. Grand Central has six daily services from Eaglescliffe to London, with Middlesbrough also offering a direct Darlington service to London by the end of 2021. Main Line Train Station Teesside International Airport TransPennine Express Three railway stations services connect connected to London Middlesbrough and Yarm Edinburgh to major business Tees Valley – Edinburgh 2hr by rail Tees Valley is centrally Newcastle located for easy access North East to the whole of the UK of England

Teesside International Airport Daily flights connect East Coast Main Line at offers daily connections to London Situated within 1hr Direct train links to A19 Heathrow taking less than an hour. Teesside to London in Darlington enables a of six key universities York (30mins), Hull under an hour 2hr 20min journey to including Teesside, Leeds Newcastle (30mins) Manchester It also connects the Tees Valley to central London, Durham, Newcastle Liverpool more than 200 global destinations services every 30mins and Leeds (54mins) A1(M) and Leeds via the service to the capital and Tees Valley – London also Amsterdam’s Schiphol hub. 2hr 20min by rail The Tees Valley is a cost-effective area and offers low-cost, high-quality premises and a low-cost, highly skilled workforce. The cost of living Cost-eective Grade A Population of around One of only nine Metro Realistic house prices – is also low in comparison to other oce space – average 700,000 with Mayors in the UK – average house price in large cities, which means that quality price per sqm £12 2.5million people a devolved Tees Valley £142,237 of life is much higher, leading to a located within 1hr drive administration with happier and healthier workforce. London strong public-private sector partnership

4 Invest Tees Valley | Digital Invest Tees Valley | Digital 5 BUSINESSES Animmersion Double Eleven Visualsoft

Established in 2006, Animmersion is a leading supplier Based in Boho One, Double Eleven is an independent Stockton-based Visualsoft is an award-winning HERE of digital visualisation tools specialising in holograms UK developer and publisher of interactive digital ecommerce platform and digital marketing business and mixed reality, interactive displays, animation, user entertainment. The company, which has more than 200 that was established in 1998. It employs more than experience and user interface design, virtual reality and people working at its headquarters in Middlesbrough, 280 people across its four locations, which includes Phusion augmented reality. It is part of the Boho Zone cluster in is one of the UK’s key providers of development Newcastle, Manchester and Dubai as well as its Tees Middlesbrough. and publishing services to the video game industry, Valley headquarters. Stockton-based Phusion was founded in 1992 and delivering full-service visual and development solutions is now a global business with a successful 25 year Animmersion is recognised as the leading UK hologram from initial concept to production, development, The company works with more than 1,000 clients track record of delivering information management provider, delivering hardware and content for turnkey publishing and to provide bespoke ecommerce solutions and helps software and services to some of the world’s largest solutions designed to suit many applications. live operations. grow businesses online by the use of digital marketing, capital projects and blue chip companies. including SEO, PPC, social media, email marketing, Its revolutionary DeepFrame One, featured at the Great The firm has developed and published computer games affiliate marketing and conversion rate optimisation. Recent years have seen the development of the Exhibition of the North, is the largest mixed-reality display including Goat Simulator and Prison Architect and Phusion software suite, establishing them as a of its kind. Merging the real and virtual world allows most recently Rust Console Edition. Due to its success supplier of innovative and cost-effective SaaS viewers to experience lifelike visuals never before seen The business recently launched Shared Success – in the region it opened a studio in Kuala Lumpur, the products to a wide range of industry sectors. without the use of traditional and immersive VR eyewear. a disruptive, all-inclusive, commission-based solution Malaysian capital, in 2020 to support development on designed to deliver accelerated retail sales growth. a continuous cycle.

Double Eleven has also been working with Microsoft It works with global online retailers, such as Wonderbra, to co-develop Minecraft Dungeons, with the creation Gant, Canterbury and Middlesbrough Football Club. of its Jungle Awakens and Creeping Winter expansions and continues to work on unannounced projects for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S/X.

Datum360 Cubic

Based at Fusion Hive in Stockton, Datum360 develops Cubic Transportation Systems is the leading integrator bespoke solutions to manage and connect data. of payment and information solutions. It delivers It developed the Connected Data platform to manage integrated systems for transportation and traffic every item of engineering information and asset management, providing tools for travellers to choose management data. the smartest and easiest way to travel and pay for their journeys, while enabling transportation The Datum360 Platform is now recognised as a pioneer authorities and agencies to manage demand across in the delivery of Connected Data, joining customers the entire transportation network – all in real-time. with their data to enable efficiency across projects, into and throughout operations. Its cloud-based enterprise SaaS platform transforms how businesses operate and From its office in Stockton-on-Tees, it has developed maintain their facilities. some of the most advanced transport systems in the world, including the Oyster Card system in London.

It also provides Sydney, Australia, with one of the world’s most advanced transport management systems, the Intelligent Congestion Management Program (ICMP)

With the contract valued at more than $35million, the new system enhances monitoring and management of the road network across New South Wales (NSW), coordinates the public transport network across all modes, improves the management of clearways, planning of major events and improves incident clearance times, while providing real-time information and advice to the public about disruptions.

6 Invest Tees Valley | Digital Invest Tees Valley | Digital 7 TEESSIDE UNIVERSITY

Teesside University is a key part of the digital sector within the

Tees Valley, with more than 1,200 DigitalCity Animex students currently studying digital- The Teesside University-led initiative DigitalCity connects people Animex was founded by Teesside University in related courses, ensuring a skilled and businesses in the Tees Valley with the knowledge, skills and 2000 with a view to creating a world-class inclusive expertise needed to thrive in a digital future. The fully funded festival that would draw some of the games and pipeline for the workforce. project: animation industries’ brightest lights and future stars together to share their knowledge with the ■ Creates a new generation of digital businesses by nurturing next generation. Consisting of a unique blend of At the forefront of current practice, the School of Computing, start-ups and providing hubs where they can grow talks, workshops, networking events, exhibitions Engineering and Digital Technologies (SCEDT) is one of the and screenings, Animex promotes an ethos of best-equipped in the country, with cutting-edge technologies that ■ Supports the growth of existing businesses through digital, collaboration and sharing and prides itself on its provide a world-class learning environment. Studios are equipped unlocking their potential through innovation warm, friendly atmosphere. to industry standard for hardware and software, while specialist ■ Transforms non-digital businesses with bespoke support facilities include an AR/VR suite, recording studios, green screen Animex brings together industry experts to discuss and sound stage, motion capture and more than 30 specialised to utilise innovative technology, tap into new markets and improve their competitiveness the state-of-the-art, show behind the scenes of the computing studios. biggest hits, and to have a great time at one of the The initiative has supported the growth and transformation of premier games and animation events anywhere in Teesside has a strong heritage in computing: it was the first businesses across the Tees Valley since 2001 and has recently the world. University to offer the ground-breaking MSc in Computer Aided adapted and enhanced its online offer in response to Covid-19. and Graphical Technology Applications (CAGTA) in 1989, which With a shift to online delivery of its interactive programmes, Judging panels from previous awards have included blazed a digital trail for today’s leading computing, animation bespoke mentoring, expert-led workshops and digital support, representatives from LAIKA, Toon Boom Animation, and visual effects courses. DigitalCity has helped hundreds of digital businesses to power Beryl Productions International, Atomhawk Design, through the pandemic as well as supporting wider-sector Pixar, ILM, Disney, Aardman Animation, Sony Imageworks, DreamWorks and Electronic Arts, Teesside is continually ranked among the world’s leading companies to adopt digital technology and pivot their services. to name a few. animation schools and placed in the top three in the UK, and has one of the largest computer games departments. SCEDT’s research strengths are in cutting-edge technologies such as AI, data analytics, machine learning, cyber security and IOT to support businesses to innovate and grow.

SCEDT alumni have worked for nearly every major technology company, including Hollywood studios, with graduates occupying global technical and artistic leadership roles in the USA, Canada, Singapore, UAE, Australia, Hong Kong, Africa and Europe. Teesside SCEDT graduates also form a significant part of the regional tech workforce, in both large and small companies.

Since January 2020 the university has worked with 52 Tees Valley based SMEs in the digital sector on 93 projects. It also leads on DigitalCity, and Animex, a major international festival of animation and games.

8 Invest Tees Valley | Digital Invest Tees Valley | Digital 9 DIGITALISATION ACCOMMODATION

AND INDUSTRY With major developments across all five Tees Valley boroughs, there is a large choice of sites and premises that are ideal for digital businesses.

The concept of the fourth industrial Industrial Digitalisation Technology Centre With a choice of well-connected town centres or business parks, the sites Fusion Hive revolution (Industry 4.0) is gathering pace do not compromise on quality. There is Grade A office space available in all five boroughs and the region has some of the fastest broadband speeds Fusion Hive in Stockton-on-Tees acts Teesside University has launched the Industrial as a driver for change, introducing new in the country. Office space rentals are significantly less than the national as a technology business hub, bringing Digitalisation Technology Centre (IDTC) to support SMEs technologies and techniques that will average, meaning companies choosing the Tees Valley have much lower companies together to network, share in the Tees Valley explore the opportunities Industry operating costs and in turn see higher profit margins. knowledge and make the most of change products, processes and supply 4.0 technologies bring, such as the Internet of Things, opportunities for growth. big data analytics, modelling, simulation and sensor chains. technology – creating an essential competitive edge Boho Zone Business Central It is newly built and offers high-quality, that generates real value for businesses. Middlesbrough’s Boho Zone is the Business Central is the ideal location exceptional space on one of the prime The Tees Valley is home to a number of businesses, digital, creative and business hub for established businesses and those development sites in the Tees Valley. predominately SMEs, with specialist expertise in delivering The ITDC provides a way for SMEs to de-risk their of the Tees Valley. It provides digital starting out. Situated in the heart of Close to national road and rail links digital process improvement and automated solutions. investment, offering consultancy and mentoring for companies with their own cluster, Darlington it benefits from ultra-fast as well as Stockton town centre, These include system integrators, digital visualisation digitalisation projects that typically last from six to supporting the creation of additional connectivity, and is also unrivalled in Fusion Hive combines a unique, specialists, oil and gas asset management and animation, 12 months. It builds on the work of the University’s jobs in this expanding sector. accessibility, being within easy reach prestigious riverside location that is augmented reality and virtual reality solution providers. DigitalCity initiative, putting digital at the heart of of the A1(M), Darlington’s East Coast close to national road and rail links traditional businesses, and its School of Computing, Boho One is its flagship building with Main Line train station and Teesside as well as Stockton town centre. The Materials Processing Institute is creating the Engineering & Digital Technologies’ expertise and units from 377sq ft – 20,450sq ft, International Airport. “Future Steel Factory” a digital demonstrator of reputation for innovation, academic excellence, with Boho 8 being the most recent Industry 4.0 technologies for the steel and process world-class research and industrial experience. development. Completed in March 21 industries. By doing so, the Institute will explore the it offers 10,000 sq ft of high-quality opportunities and challenges involved with applying office space. Industry 4.0. This knowledge will then be applied to National Horizons Centre develop a safe and reliable method for the integration Boho X is currently in development of the new technologies, without process disruption. and will be the landmark building The National Horizons Centre is Teesside University’s for the digital and creative sector £22million centre of excellence for the biosciences in the Tees Valley. It will see the In oil and gas, Datum360’s asset data management and healthcare sector. With research, partnerships creation of 60,000sq ft of Grade A system is being used by Maersk to manage, measure and training at its core, the organisation brings together BIS The Palace Hub office accommodation and provide and report the engineering information for the industry, academia, talent and world-class facilities additional features including: a lecture Formerly Hartlepool’s General Post The Palace Hub is a fantastic new Tyra gas field in Denmark. to create real-world impact. theatre, bar and event space, café Office building, the BIS is a beautiful facility built with the creative community area and gym/studio. As part of the grade II-listed building. It is now a 28- in mind. Its stunning location at the The National Horizons Centre is responding to industry development the public realm around unit centre for business start-ups in heart of Redcar seafront provides an needs by training people with the latest digital skills the building will be transformed the creative industries sector and is in awe-inspiring venue with excellent across operations and R&D in biologics and other related to a pedestrian friendly space that close proximity to Hartlepool railway accommodation for creatives, be it sectors. It offers state-of-the-art facilities to encourage includes outdoor seating and TV station and the town centre. The permanent office space, studio space the application of digital technologies and works with Tier screen and an orchard. Completion centre offers a range of studio, office for artists. ‘Pods’, hot-desking and 1 companies, digital businesses and academics to develop is expected in December 2022. and workshop space ranging from virtual space facilities are also available creative digital solutions to industry challenges, to create 140sq ft to 1,850sq ft with specialist for fledgling businesses who will benefit a step-change in productivity for companies. All offer ultra-high-speed business support. The facility offers from being in a supportive atmosphere communications and open Wi-Fi flexible rental terms and competitive with other like-minded people. in public areas. prices.

10 Invest Tees Valley | Digital Invest Tees Valley | Digital 11 FILMMAKING DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Filmmaking in the Tees Valley is led by TV and screen-based arts, primarily through its talent The extent of an area’s digital access is the foundation on which Northern Film + Media (NFM), the North development projects, events and production service. In addition, it drives regional commercial film and television its businesses and residents are able to connect with one another East’s creative industries development production and attracts inward investment by promoting and enable economic opportunities. One measure of this is agency. the region as a base for incoming film and TV production. broadband connectivity and speeds. NFM has unrivalled experience in supporting the North Part of NFM is Tees Valley Screen, an exciting Tees Valley East’s creative, cultural and digital companies and a depth wide development programme for SMEs and companies and breadth of intelligence of the sector. It works with across the film, television, artist moving image and The Tees Valley has very high rates of broadband The North East has high rates of superfast connectivity businesses and professionals specialising in film, broader screen industries. connectivity when compared to the wider North East compared to other English regions and is second only and the UK. Connectivity has increased across the board to the East Midlands in connectivity rates; this means compared to figures for the previous year. At least 96% connectivity in the North East is higher than in London of premises now have access to Superfast Broadband and the other Northern regions. coverage from fixed broadband. With excellent superfast broadband coverage in our key Broadband download speeds are much higher than the urban centres the Tees Valley accounts for no fewer than The Northern School of Art and the Northern Studios national average with average download speeds across four out of the top six UK local authorities for median the whole of the Tees Valley at 98 Mbit/s, compared to 69 download speed of broadband users’ connections The Northern School of Art is the leading and celebrated They sit in an area popular for location shooting with the Mbit/s nationally. (Stockton-on-Tees, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough and Redcar provider of specialist creative art and design degrees in full range of potential sites within a 60-minute drive (rural, & Cleveland), with Darlington 12th out of 379 Local the North and the leading provider of further education for coastal, heritage, industrial and urban), cutting down Authorities. art and design in the Tees Valley. The Northern School of on transport and accommodation costs for production Art is building The Northern Studios, a major commercial companies. studio and sound stage project. This project will see the re- purposing of more than 32,30000sq ft of a former depot to There are three sound stage areas as well as a full create three large sound stages and associated production production suite with offices, green rooms, make-up and facilities for dry-hire. The and Combined costume facilities, storage and a very large secure lot and Authority have made a £3.76million investment in the parking. project. The creation of this new facility will act as a magnet for the The Northern Studios are the only at-scale dedicated establishment of a cluster of screen related companies LOCAL AUTHORITY MEDIAN DOWNLOAD commercial film and TV production facilities in the North and has the potential to be part of a wider set of attractions SPEED (MBIT/S) (between the M62 corridor and the Scottish central belt). for the visitor economy. WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE 107.0

NORTH EAST LINCOLNSHIRE 107.0

STOCKTON-ON-TEES 107.0

HARTLEPOOL 107.0

MIDDLESBROUGH 107.0

REDCAR & CLEVELAND 80.0

CAMBRIDGE 79.8

STEVENAGE 79.7

LUTON 79.7

NOTTINGHAM 79.7

BRISTOL 79.7

DARLINGTON 78.1

Ofcom Connected Nations: June 2020

12 Invest Tees Valley | Digital Invest Tees Valley | Digital 13 PLANNING FOR LIFESTYLE THE FUTURE

Tees Valley is committed to ensuring high-quality digital The Tees Valley offers a great standard of There is a superb variety of homes to suit most incomes. infrastructure, connecting people to each other, people to businesses, and businesses living with a richly diverse landscape, from From country cottages to new builds and Victorian houses to executive apartments, there is something for everyone. to markets, forming a foundation for economic activity that enables the development of picturesque villages to charming market The average house price across the Tees Valley is digital technologies and the digitisation of business. towns and a beautiful coastline to stunning £142,237, which means you have more money to spend countryside. on the important things. The coronavirus pandemic has made reliable internet These include ambitions to be a digital testbed area for access an essential condition of continued growth. Digital innovative digital technologies. The UK Government has The region has a thriving independent scene, with Baker Nine out of ten Tees Valley primary schools are either infrastructure has become critical to the functioning of an recently announced that the Tees Valley will be one of the and Bedford Streets in Middlesbrough, as well as Yarm, good or outstanding and apprenticeships and support economy and reliable connectivity is an essential element first areas in the country to be involved in the rollout of Darlington and Saltburn offering café and coffee culture, schemes create pathways for our young people. Schools of the economic recovery process. In addition, the pandemic Project Gigabit – a new £5billion infrastructure project and unique independent shopping alternatives. such as Yarm School and Teesside High offer has forced businesses to rethink their operations and how which aims to deliver nationwide coverage of gigabit- co-educational, independent education for pupils aged they use technology. It is estimated that three years’ worth capable broadband to 85% of the country by 2025, with as If you love the outdoors then the Tees Valley is the ideal 3-18. Conyers, in Yarm, and Egglescliffe and Hurworth are of digital transformation took place in three months when close to 100% thereafter. location for you. Enjoy water sports along the River Tees excellent, high performing comprehensive schools. the required public health measures began in March 2020, or at our coastal villages. If you prefer cycling and hiking, with increased dependence on reliable broadband for work In addition to this, in December 2020 CityFibre began a Guisborough Woods, the North York Moors and coastal Not many areas allow you to live less than 30 minutes and education. £42million gigabit investment in Middlesbrough, as part of paths around Saltburn provide a range of options, all with from outstanding coast, stunning countryside and the its plans to help replace the UK’s legacy copper networks stunning views across the region. The Lake District and office. With a high quality of life and low cost of living, Tees Valley Combined Authority is proactively supporting with gigabit-capable full fibre optic connectivity. Hartlepool, Yorkshire Dales are within a 1.5 hour drive too. Quality of the perfect work-life balance is easier to find when you and enabling private sector infrastructure investment Redcar & Cleveland and Stockton-on-Tees are also part of life is good here because people get more for their money. live in the Tees Valley. opportunities that will improve connectivity across the area CityFibre’s £4billion investment to gigabit capable ‘fibre to and raise the profile of Tees Valley as a digital hotspot. the premises’ broadband by 2025.

14 Invest Tees Valley | Digital Invest Tees Valley | Digital 15 Hartlepool

Stockton-on-Tees Redcar & Cleveland Darlington Middlesbrough

For more detailed information, please get in touch with the Business Investment Team

T: 01642 524400 E: [email protected] www.teesinvest.com

TeesValleyCA @TeesValleyCA @TeesValleyCA