Sunderland Software City has announced expansion amid moves to drive forward regional digital tech sector growth.
The organisation, launched 13 years ago to meet the needs of the tech sector through a range of business support and digital skills programmes, is creating 10 jobs to form a new enterprise team, while also expanding other departments.
The new enterprise team will focus on supporting the start-up and growth rates of digital tech businesses in the region, by developing and delivering pilot activities.
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David Dunn, CEO, said: “There is a real desire across the region to create a pipeline of new digital tech businesses and we’re working with a number of partners to make this a reality.
“To bring this from plan to fruition we are recruiting a broad number of new roles. We’ve deliberately made many of the jobs suitable for people who never thought they could help tech sector growth – such as our engagement specialists, who reach into communities not normally linked to tech business creation.”
The new Enterprise Team will focus specifically on helping people explore and advance their digital business ideas. This support will range from raising awareness about the possibilities of starting a tech business to delivering tailored business support.
Sunderland Software City is expanding its other departments with new roles to deliver more activities within the wider tech ecosystem.
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To support local people to fill vacancies within the tech sector, Sunderland Software City has also partnered with the new Department for Education’s Digital Bootcamp pilot which aims to support over 500 people to build their digital tech skills and access jobs in new and existing regional companies.
“The Digital Bootcamp project is a true step change initiative and is an opportunity for individuals from all backgrounds to access employment in the burgeoning regional sector,” said Jill McKinney, head of skills at Sunderland Software City.
It is hoped that the work of Software City, delivered alongside other regional stakeholders, will create 2,000 new businesses by 2026, bringing thousands of new digital tech sector jobs to the region.
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