focus on guildford How to grow a UK tech hub
The United Kingdom is recognised as one of the most important technology hubs in the world. The UK technology sector is reportedly growing more than twice as fast as the overall economy, and London has been recognised as the second most connected place for technology across the globe, behind Silicon Valley in the US
In addition to London, we also have a fast-growing tech hub on our doorstep in the South East – Guildford. The town is hugely attractive to businesses of all sizes and its reputation within the gaming and space industries in particular puts Guildford on the worldwide stage. But how has Guildford evolved to become a tech hub? What are the ingredients needed to be the UK’s answer to Silicon Valley?
A beautiful environment
Guildford sits on the edge of a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – the Surrey Hills – hiking, biking, village living on Guildford’s doorstep. The Enterprise M3 LEP (Local Enterprise Partnership), one of 38 set up to drive economic growth of areas, is ranked eighth out of 48 sub- regions in England on quality of life score – and yet, it is on London’s doorstep, with Heathrow and Gatwick nearby. The combination of a desirable place to live or work and enviable transport connections makes Guildford an attractive offer for anyone looking to base their life, or their business, for the long-term.
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Influential infrastructure at your fingertips
Guildford is well served. The Surrey Research Park is owned and run by the University of Surrey. It hosts 150 largely tech-focused companies and is home to the Surrey Technology Centre – a multi- unit centre and incubation hub serving more than 100 SMEs, and a branch of the world’s leading university incubator SETsquared, a collaboration with the universities of Bath, Bristol, Exeter, Southampton and Surrey. But there is more – the nearby Guildford Business Park is currently home to Philips and Ericsson and the funky Walnut Tree Close precinct, with its collection of resident games companies. The networking opportunities and space to grow for companies is particularly compelling for small or start-up businesses.
An internationally-renowned university
The University of Surrey has always been about science, engineering and industrial engagement. Its adventurous
and generous academic spirit sees it more and more exploring the unexpected ‘knowledge territories’ where disciplines intersect – for instance, the collision of technology and its societal implications in everyday life, in business, in the law, and in our health. Innovative research and new developments just up the road make the town a hotbed for creativity and opportunity.
Virtual connectivity at your disposal
The digital infrastructure in Guildford is set to be supercharged in the near future with the Enterprise M3 LEP leading the charge. Ambitious plans are well advanced to create a multi-terabit fibre spine and international internet gateway linking the greater region around Guildford with Hibernia Express, a transatlantic submarine cable passing through Slough. Key to the plan is to support an early- adopter 5G Network, expanding the region’s 5G capacity at the University of Surrey’s 5G Innovation Centre.
Guildford has a lot going for it. From THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018
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