Southampton’s creative tech scene
When thinking of cities with a large creative tech influence, London, Brighton and Birmingham may be a few of the metropolitan hubs which spring to mind. Today I’m going to make the case for Southampton and it’s estimated 22,737 digital jobs. A seaside city with a population a quarter of the size of Birmingham.
Southampton, which has a heritage in ocean-liners and Spitfires, is continuing to showcase its technical ability through a new breed of companies pushing the way forward in software, hardware, and online experiences.
Here are three reasons why Southampton’s tech scene will continue to grow.
1) Community
When the Southampton based web-design industry noticed a lack of community-led events in their local area, they didn’t sit back and wait, they started their own. Hacksoton, ShareUp Soton, FullStack Hampshire, Evening Of, Soton Women in Web, somakeit and meetngeek are just a few to get you started. If you’re looking to meet like-minded people, to hire talented locals, or to find a job within Southampton, these events should be your starting point.
2) Universities
Southampton has over 36,000 students who study at one of the two universities the city boasts. Local and talented graduates flow from these universities every year, with huge benefit to local enterprises. Larger companies such as Ordnance Survey to small start-ups, such as ourselves, all benefit from having students entering into the industry on our doorstep.
3) Investment
Southampton is a city attracting investment. Currently, the old Bargate area is undergoing a £100M renovation, while startups are receiving their first round of funding, right here in the city. The investments flowing into the city’s infrastructure is enhancing the city’s appeal as a place to live. Hundreds of new homes are currently being built, many with views over the Solent.
We’re excited to see what the future has in store for the Southampton tech scene. Partner with us on this journey.
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