Leeds Biggest Tech Hub Outside London, Festival Data Shows

The 11th Leeds Digital Festival drew more than 9,000 delegates, as new data confirmed the city now hosts more tech firms than anywhere outside the capital

Leeds is now home to more technology companies than any other place in the UK outside London, according to new figures released as the Leeds Digital Festival drew to a close. The city hosts 853 distinct tech firms, ahead of Manchester, Edinburgh and Birmingham, the research from data specialists The Data City found. The figure landed as the festival, the UK’s largest open-platform technology event, wrapped up its 11th and most varied edition, having drawn thousands of delegates to venues across the city over two weeks. It caps a strong fortnight for the city’s digital economy.

Why This Matters For Leeds

The technology sector is one of the clearest drivers of growth in the Leeds economy, so being the biggest tech hub outside London is a significant marker. It signals to investors and businesses that Leeds is a serious place to base, build and scale a tech company, which helps attract more of the same. A thriving festival on top of that turns the city’s strength into connections, deals and visibility.

What the Leeds Digital Festival Data Shows

The Data City research is the standout for businesses. As well as the 853 companies, it found the Leeds tech sector is growing at 8.3% a year, ahead of the 8.1% UK average, with 13% of local tech firms classed as high-growth after expanding by more than 20% annually. The sector contributes an estimated £1.67bn in gross value added to the economy. The festival itself ran from 21 September to 2 October, with more than 9,000 delegates attending 220 events organised by 198 companies across 95 venues and online, and speakers from over 400 organisations. The programme spanned artificial intelligence and data, fintech, health tech, quantum computing and sessions on women leaders in tech, a breadth the organisers say reflects a maturing digital economy. It was the first full edition under new director Deb Hetherington, who took over after founder Stuart Clarke stepped up to become chair.

“Leeds Digital Festival is far more than an annual showcase; it is an active economic engine driving business expansion, attracting investment, and opening tangible career pathways for talented people across the region.”

— Deb Hetherington, Festival Director, Leeds Digital Festival

A Maturing Digital Economy

The festival has grown into a fixture of the city’s calendar since it began in 2012, and this year’s edition drew sponsors and partners from across finance and technology, led by headline partner CGI and including Skipton Group, SCC, Nexus, Accenture, Leeds City Council and the Financial Conduct Authority. In the interest of transparency, Leeds Today should note that it hosted its own event, a panel on the city’s economic future, as part of this year’s programme. The scale of the ecosystem the data describes chimes with a run of recent developments, from a growing fintech and health-tech base to a live debate about whether Leeds can lead nationally on applied artificial intelligence. With the sector expanding faster than the national average and now leading the field outside London, the Leeds Digital Festival is helping to turn that momentum into lasting growth.