The UK government has launched its £1 million Regional Tech Booster programme to support 14 projects across the country.
The investment will provide businesses and entrepreneurs with targeted training, expert guidance, help to build networks, and support to scale their operations from within their communities.
The government said a series of investment events will also take place, connecting UK tech brilliance with investors, with the first in Bristol and Leeds.
It added that the Regional Tech Booster projects will include a support scheme for early-stage gaming startups in Scotland, create pathways from further education to entrepreneurship in Lancashire, launch an AI innovation challenge in Wales, and accelerate the growth of the advanced connectivity technology industry in Suffolk.
The move is designed to boost tech business and grow local tech ecosystems as well as create more opportunities outside of London.
Alongside the localised focus, the government said some of the projects will also support greater diversity within the sector, with a focus on underrepresented founders.
One such project in Northern Ireland will focus on boosting AI adoption amongst founders, and a West Midlands project will help underrepresented founders build up the networks and support they need to succeed in tech.
The government is partnering with UK Tech Cluster Group, a network of reginal tech organisations, to deliver the £1 million Regional Tech Booster programme, ensuring local expertise is driving the work on the ground in these communities.
“We want UK tech to grow and succeed from any and every corner of the country,” said tech for growth minister, Kanishka Narayan. “It’s a no-brainer that supporting projects like these, and encouraging more investment across the UK, will catalyse our tech brilliance to boost economic growth and opportunities for communities nationwide.”
Last month, the government launched a taskforce to develop the North East AI Growth Zone.
The North East Growth Zone is a designated site for hosing AI-enabled datacentres which has access to power supplies of at least 500MW, to create new jobs, training and apprenticeship routes.
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) said that the taskforce consists of tech firms such as British AI firm Nscale, local universities and skills providers who will work together to create jobs and address any planning issues from the creation of the growth zone.
