TechNorth urged to be more transparent

Initiative aimed at emulating London's Tech City must do more to consult with local stakeholders, according to Manchester Digital

Concerns over the transparency of the TechNorth initiative have been raised as it emerged that Manchester has been chosen as its headquarters.

Designed to rival London's Tech City, TechNorth will aim to co-ordinate the existing digital technology expertise of five northern cities: Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, Liverpool and the North East tech cluster (Newcastle, Sunderland and the Tees Valley).

At the time it was unveiled in October, deputy prime minister Nick Clegg said the project's goal was to double ICT jobs in the region from the current level of 200,000.

According to reports from the BBC and the Manchester Evening News last week, Manchester's Northern Quarter will play host to the project.

But Katie Gallagher, managing director of trade association Manchester Digital, said her members do not think the initiative is as engaged with "stakeholders" as it could be.

"Our membership backs the TechNorth initiative but thinks that if central government is to succeed then it needs to start working more closely with businesses and organisations that have made the tech and digital sector flourish," she said.

"This means publishing a road map for the project, consulting key organisations such as Manchester Digital and generally being more transparent about the project."

According to the findings of a government report unveiled last week, 74 per cent of digital companies in the UK operate outside the UK. Manchester alone has seen a 70 per cent growth in digital companies since 2010, it found.

Doug Ward, co-founder of Manchester start-up hub Spaceport, welcomed the interest in an interview with the BBC.

"What we expect with TechNorth is a real international stamp of confidence to show that the government is fully behind the powerhouse vision and we expect international funds and international technology companies to start looking at the north as a very credible option as a UK headquarters," he said.