The South West is not a region that many people in Britain would immediately associate with the technology sector.
Indeed, with a reputation for the high cost of living, a population which skews old rather than young, few large cities, and lower levels of infrastructure investment, many would assume that the South West would be the last part of Britain to benefit from a tech boom.
However, in a surprising turn of events, Tech has become a fast-growing industry in the South West as knowledgable workers and employers look to move out of expensive metropolitan areas to cheaper cities such as Exeter.
The beacon of Bristol, attracting many professionals and young families moving out of London, has also served as a leading tech hub for the region, going from strength to strength.
The South West Tech Awards
The South West Tech Awards have been established to promote the technology industry across the South West.
Nineteen judges with a variety of backgrounds bring their expertise to judging entries from the region’s burgeoning tech sector across sixteen categories.
Prizes include best start-up, tech entrepreneur of the year, and best international success.
Besides awards of the kinds you would expect in any business, the awards are also very awake to the challenges facing the tech industry in the 21st Century.
There are therefore awards for sustainable tech and commitment to diversity. The awards are also keen to highlight the role that tech companies can play in the communities where they are set up, and in educating the next generation of innovators, and therefore offer awards for the best education initiative and contribution to the community.
The industry is well served by bodies such as the Tech South West Steering Group which provide leadership and networking within the industry.
The new availability of remote work
The South West does not suffer as badly from the “concrete jungle” effect caused by paved ground and lack of green space as the areas around London, Birmingham and Manchester.
It also boasts some of the most enviably bright and pleasant climates in Britain. It is therefore not surprising that people want to live here. But with low levels of rail investment and large distances to cover, it can be an expensive region to be a commuter.
This is where the possibility of remote work can offer huge benefits. Giving workers the option to work from home for a couple of days a week, or even for most or all of their time as an employee can vastly reduce the company’s carbon footprint as it cuts their commute and the need for them to use company resources at the office.
Using a communications network like Unified Communications Solutions By Gamma can offer flexibility to a tech company by streamlining all communications within the company, and reduce the need for face to face meetings, as well as allowing for more effective remote work.
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