In September 2024 UKTN released a regional tech report in partnership with KPMG, Connected Innovation and Tech East shining a light on the Norfolk and Suffolk tech industries.
To explore the topic further, UKTN brought together a group of local experts for a panel discussion on how the local community can supercharge the already impressive progress in Norfolk and Suffolk tech.
The panel, which convened in Norfolk’s own Norwich University of the Arts, discussed what local tech stakeholders need to advance the region’s national and global standing, how the political landscape of the region has brought challenges for growth and how native institutions can play their part in boosting the tech economy.
Halo effect
Norfolk and Suffolk have had a handful of high-profile tech successes, such as Epos Now and Developing Experts, however, the more examples of local tech companies achieving prominent success, the more prestige is given to the region.
Joe Faulkner, senior partner at KPMG for East Anglia, said there was more than enough potential in both Norfolk and Suffolk for a newly minted tech unicorn or high-profile IPO in the near future.
Faulkner said a few examples of this in reasonably quick succession would bring a “halo effect” to the region.
“There is momentum behind the tech scene,” Faulkner said. “We need businesses that can scale and keep up.”
He said when regions see local startups have high-profile funding rounds and exit events it gives them “confidence and swagger that is infectious in my experience”.
Universities
A key factor across all of the UK tech industry, the panel agreed that the role of universities in the region could be emphasised to encourage growth.
Tim Robinson, chief operating officer of Tech East, said that the higher education sector was under a lot of pressure, and expanding programmes that exchange knowledge between local institutions and businesses may be difficult, but they can be effective drivers of innovation.
Robinson also said there may be an attitude among senior university officials that spinouts are “too risky” to be a priority for university staff over teaching hours and research.
“I think the world of academia and business talk slightly different languages, and it’s not straightforward, but I do think efforts are being made.”
Fragmented politics
Another challenge for growth that came up in the panel conversation was the nature of the region’s politics.
Tom Wood, a partner at Akcela, made the point that historically in the case of Norwich, it has been a “red city in a blue county”, which, contributed to a “log jam” when it comes to assigning governmental resources.
Wood said with a “more multicoloured map”, the different parties can “bring ideas” and attempt to “lead the conversation in their area”, creating new opportunities.
Robinson argued that Norfolk and Suffolk have been somewhat left behind politically due to a lack of devolved local politics.
“We’re at a significant disadvantage in Norfolk and Suffolk compared with areas that have elected mayors and combined authorities”.
Faulkner echoed this point, saying: “We really lack a clear, strong voice devolution could give, and because of that haven’t really factored in the levelling up debate in the past.”
Though the panel agreed there could be improved support from local and national government, Sarah Mintey, founder and CEO of Developing Experts, advised founders to not “wait for the government to give you the funding if you want to start something, find it yourself and work with industry”.
Thank you to all of the panellists for sharing their insights into the future of the Norfolk and Suffolk tech industries, as well as those who attended the discussion.
