The new Regional Tech Booster programme aims to close the investment and support gap between London and other UK regions by providing tailored mentoring, funding access, and skills development to early-stage digital startups across Scotland, the North East, Humber and East, and South Yorkshire.
The UK government has launched a new initiative designed to accelerate the growth of tech innovation beyond London, targeting regions including Scotland, the North East, Humber and East, and South Yorkshire. The Regional Tech Booster programme, backed by a £1 million investment, aims to nurture early-stage digital startups and bolster local economies by providing tailored mentoring, better access to funding, and skills development opportunities for entrepreneurs outside the capital.
Despite London’s status as Europe’s pre-eminent tech hub, significant disparities remain between the capital and other regions of the UK. The government’s move seeks to close this gap by addressing critical challenges such as uneven entrepreneur support and the difficulty of securing investment in regional tech ecosystems. The programme will deliver specific initiatives including mentoring schemes, investment promotion events, and workshops that facilitate knowledge-sharing across regional tech communities, fostering a more integrated and resilient network of innovation hubs.
Baroness Jones, Minister for Tech and Future Digital Economy, highlighted that tech innovation is thriving across the entire UK and that this investment is part of the government’s broader Plan for Change aimed at generating inclusive economic growth. “By supporting regional tech entrepreneurs, we’re creating the conditions for innovation and prosperity to flourish,” she said. The initiative aligns with other government efforts such as Project Gigabit, the Local Innovation Partnership Fund, AI Growth Zones, and skills programmes, all designed to reinforce the industrial strategy’s focus on regional development.
The UK Tech Cluster Group (UKTCG), which represents a network of regional tech clusters, will pilot this programme. Katie Gallagher, chair of the UKTCG and managing director of Manchester Digital, emphasized that the UK’s nations and regions house a diverse and expanding array of tech ecosystems that already contribute significantly to the economy. She pointed out that with targeted support, these ecosystems could achieve even greater impact. Gallagher detailed that the programme will concentrate on collaboration, connecting clusters, sharing best practices, and supporting founders, with the goal of creating sustainable, strong regional tech economies. Information on how regional clusters can apply to participate will be released later this year.
This new Regional Tech Booster programme complements a series of substantial government investments aimed at regional innovation. Earlier announcements included a £75 million funding boost for eight regional innovation clusters, known as ‘Launchpads,’ which focus on key sectors such as healthcare, renewable energy, agri-tech, and net-zero technologies. Each cluster receives up to £7.5 million to support innovation projects led by local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). These clusters build on previous successful pilots in Liverpool and Teesside and are spread across the UK, reinforcing the government’s commitment to a balanced economic recovery.
Additionally, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt recently announced plans for new investment zones aimed at accelerating growth in high-tech sectors through dedicated funding and infrastructure. Shortlisted areas for these zones include several tech-focused urban centres in England, such as Greater Manchester, Liverpool, and South Yorkshire, with discussions underway to implement similar initiatives in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. This multi-faceted approach is complemented by a £100 million investment targeting transformative research and development projects within key innovation territories.
Further boosting the regional innovation landscape, the government has committed £30 million to support university spinouts via four regional research hubs, including significant funding for the SCENE hub in the North East. This initiative addresses regional imbalances by unlocking academic research’s economic potential, which traditionally clusters around London, Oxford, and Cambridge.
Taken together, these coordinated efforts—encompassing the Regional Tech Booster, Launchpads, investment zones, and university spinout funding—signal a holistic government strategy to decentralise innovation, stimulate regional economies, and foster long-term tech-driven growth across the UK. Such measures also complement the ongoing work of networks like the Catapult Centres, which provide independent support for commercialising new technologies through collaborations with businesses and academic institutions nationwide.
Ultimately, this strategic push follows long-standing initiatives such as the Northern Powerhouse, affirming the government’s commitment to reducing regional disparities by empowering cities and regions to lead their own economic progress. As these programmes unfold, the tech ecosystems outside London are poised for expansion, potentially reshaping the UK’s innovation landscape to be more balanced and inclusive.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.miragenews.com/uk-gov-boosts-tech-innovation-beyond-capital-1497404/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.gov.uk/government/news/expert-regional-innovation-hubs-given-75-million-boost-to-local-research-businesses-and-economies-across-uk – The UK government has announced a £75 million investment to support eight regional innovation clusters across the country. These ‘Launchpads’ aim to boost local economies and pioneer solutions in sectors such as healthcare and net-zero technologies. Each cluster will receive up to £7.5 million to fund innovation projects led by local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The initiative builds on previous pilots in Liverpool and Teesside, focusing on areas like renewable energy in Southwest Wales, agri-tech in East Anglia, and health technologies in Yorkshire.
- https://www.independent.co.uk/business/hunt-to-announce-new-investment-zones-to-supercharge-hitech-growth-b2300143.html – Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is set to announce new investment zones aimed at accelerating high-tech growth in key sectors, including technology, creative industries, life sciences, advanced manufacturing, and the ‘green’ sector. Eight areas in England—East Midlands, Greater Manchester, Liverpool, North East, South Yorkshire, Tees Valley, West Midlands, and West Yorkshire—have been shortlisted for these zones. Discussions are ongoing with devolved administrations to establish similar zones in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The initiative also includes £100 million of investment in 26 transformative R&D projects in Glasgow, Greater Manchester, and the West Midlands.
- https://techfundingnews.com/uk-unleashes-30m-to-power-regional-university-spinouts-and-boost-tech-innovation/ – The UK government has announced a £30 million investment to support university spinouts across four regional research hubs. The initiative aims to accelerate tech growth and innovation outside the traditional ‘golden triangle’ of London, Oxford, and Cambridge. This strategic effort seeks to unlock the economic potential of academic research while addressing regional imbalances in the UK’s innovation ecosystem. The four regional innovation hubs and their funding allocations are: SCENE in the North East of England, receiving over £8 million over five years; and three others not specified in the provided excerpt.
- https://www.ukri.org/news/regional-sme-innovation-clusters-to-receive-up-to-75m-boost-to-economies/ – Regional small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) clusters of world-class innovation across the UK are being backed by a share of £75 million that will boost local economies and pioneer game-changing solutions from healthcare to net zero. This initiative follows pilots in Liverpool and Teesside and will roll out eight ‘Launchpads’ across every nation of the UK. Each Launchpad will receive up to £7.5 million from Innovate UK to fund innovation projects led by local businesses, focusing on areas such as renewable energy, agri-tech, and digital health.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catapult_centres – The Catapult Centres are a network of nine independent, not-for-profit innovation and technology centres in the UK, each focusing on a specific area of technology and innovation. Established to drive economic growth and productivity, these centres collaborate with businesses, universities, and other research organisations to commercialise new technologies. The network includes centres such as the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult, the Digital Catapult, and the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, among others. The Catapult Centres play a significant role in supporting regional innovation and economic development across the UK.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Powerhouse – The Northern Powerhouse is a UK government initiative aimed at boosting economic growth and productivity in the North of England. Launched in 2014, it focuses on improving transport links, investing in science and innovation, and supporting key sectors such as digital, energy, and health. The initiative seeks to address regional disparities by empowering northern cities and regions to drive their own economic growth. It has been associated with various projects and investments aimed at enhancing the economic performance of the North of England.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative is fresh, with no evidence of prior publication. The earliest known publication date is 16 July 2025, matching the date of the report. The report is based on a press release from the UK government, which typically warrants a high freshness score.
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
No direct quotes are present in the report, indicating original content.
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
The report originates from Mirage News, an aggregator of press releases. While it republishes official statements, it does not provide original reporting or independent verification, which may affect reliability.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims align with recent UK government initiatives to support regional tech innovation. However, the lack of independent verification and reliance on a press release raises some concerns about the depth of reporting.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The report presents a fresh announcement from the UK government regarding the Regional Tech Booster programme, with no evidence of prior publication. However, the reliance on a press release from Mirage News, which republishes official statements without independent verification, raises concerns about the depth and reliability of the reporting. The absence of direct quotes and the lack of independent sources further limit the assessment of the report’s credibility. Therefore, the overall assessment is ‘OPEN’ with medium confidence.
