Dealing with the Downturn: How the UK's Tech Clusters are Coping

How are tech innovators coping?

Companies across the UK are dealing with the constraints, challenges, and complexities of the financial downturn. For many tech companies - innovators by nature - the downturn presents a unique opportunity of its own. From gaining an edge on the market, to doubling-down on USPs, tech companies across the UK are rising to the challenge in their own way.

How are the innovators dealing with this crunch? Which companies are diving head-first into growth strategies? And which ones are playing it safe?

On March 1st at 14:00 GMT, we discuss how tech companies are coping with the crisis. We speak with tech cluster leaders about how they’re dealing with the slowing of the economy. We discuss the experiences of growing-tech businesses and share their many strategies for survival. You’ll come away with a wealth of wisdom, hard-earned by the many leaders navigating this financial downturn.

Discover the full Dealing with the Downturn series here.

Tim Robinson
Chief Operating Officer at Tech East

Tim’s experience is rooted in strategic business development and digital leadership, including fourteen years with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) in London where he created a product technology division in 2007 and ran the information, data and technology business from 2010-14.

He founded his own marketing strategy consultancy in Suffolk in 2014, specialising in the technology sector. He was also digital lead on the board of the UK Publishing Training Centre where he served as a trustee for nine years. Today, Tim is the COO for Tech East, and supports the tech companies of tomorrow to succeed.

Katie Gallagher
Managing Director at Manchester Digital

Katie Gallagher is the Managing Director of Manchester Digital, the largest trade body for technology and digital businesses in the North.

Under Katie’s leadership, Manchester Digital has made a significant impact on the success of the tech and digital industry in the region, taking a lead on the development of innovative talent and skills projects and currently working to improve the regions’ cybersecurity capacity through the Digital Security Centre.

Ben Shorrock
Managing Director at TechSPARK

Ben has been working to help grow tech and digital businesses for the last decade. He is MD of TechSPARK the Southwest’s network for tech start up and scale ups working with 35,000 people a month to help them recruit, network and raise capital in the UK’s most productive tech cluster.

Prior to working for TechSPARK, Ben worked in consultancy with businesses opening new sites internationally. In this role, he helped set up Invest Bristol & Bath and the Netherlands consulate for the north of England. In these roles, he has supported over 100 companies invest in the UK helping enable 3000+ jobs. Ben is also an assessment lead for TechNation’s exceptional talent visa, which considers whether potential applicants are globally leading talent and entitled to UK residency.

Ben is a co-founder of Bristol Tech Festival and sits on the boards of Tech South West, UK Tech Cluster Group and Bristol’s One City Board.