Number of Digital Jobs
Digital GVA
High Growth Firms
Startup Births
Average Advertised Digital Salary
Tech Sector Growth Potential

What's there

Leeds is home to some of the UK’s biggest digital rock stars, Rockstar Games was founded in the city in 1997.

Other big names here include Sky Betting and Gaming, Callcredit and NHS Digital.

Digital agencies such as Stickyeyes, Epiphany and twentysix are growing ever stronger. Exciting local startups and scale-ups are also emerging. These include Cocoon, a company that is re-imagining home security systems, and Ten10 one of the UK’s leading software testing companies.

The Leeds University backed SPARK programme supports student entrepreneurs, while Futurelabs, Duke Studios, Leeds Beckett Digital Hub and ODI Leeds provide space and networking opportunities.

What's new

Leeds Digital Jobs Fair had its inaugural event in 2016, hosting 33 companies and 1,300 attendees. The annual Leeds Digital Festival has also kicked off to celebrate and promote the area’s digital talent, and Hyve News was launched to promote the digital tech sector in Leeds.

Meanwhile, academies run by Sky Betting and Gaming, Sky Technology and William Hill continue to attract talented graduates.

What's up next

A £3.7 million grant from Leeds City Council will be divided between innovative tech projects, and Creative England backed Gameslab Leeds will continue to support games studios in the area.

Tech companies, universities and the Council have launched a digital skills action plan with intensive boot camps and degree-level apprenticeships being rolled out in 2017.

  • Richard Flint

    CEO, Sky Betting & Gaming

    What we do

    Sky Betting & Gaming is a Sunday Times Top 100 employer and a fast-growing Yorkshire unicorn, headquartered inLeeds. It employs more than 1,000 people and contributed 18% of Leeds’ digital GVA in 2014/15.

    Why Leeds?

    We love being in such a great city – it’s full of talented and ambitious people seeking a fulfilling career, which helps to support our continued job creation plans.

  • Omair Vaiyani

    CTO & Co-Founder, Synap

    What we do

    Synap is one of the world's most intelligent study tools, using machine-learning to optimise knowledge retention. With Synap, students can find revision material on any topic, including premium materials from publishers such as Oxford University Press.

    Why Leeds?

    Leeds has a thriving digital tech scene - being based here gives us great access to the universities, and to thousands of talented graduates looking to work in an innovative startup.

Economic stats

23734 Number of Digital Jobs ?
0.44 Digital Concentration ?
£688 million Digital GVA ?
16% High Growth Firms ?
314 Startup Births ?
14% Turnover Growth
£50,041 Average Advertised Digital Salary ?

Standard of living

7.68 Life Satisfaction ?
£179,870 Average House Price ?
3.6 Housing Affordability Ratio ?

Cost of doing business

27 Commercial Rent Per Annum (£ sq/ft) ? JLL Property Data - Leeds

What local startups say is good

92% Tech Sector Growth Potential
84% Overall Quality of Life
66% Strength of Digital Economy

What local startups say is a challenge

74% Lack of Supply of Highly Skilled Workers
45% Retention of Skilled Workers
36% Low Level Awareness of a Local Digital Industry
Download more details on survey responses for this cluster