CREATIVE
Live and work in one of the UK’s most digitally-progressive regions, that’s fuelling Big Data discoveries and an ever-evolving creative tech ecosystem.
Liverpool City Region is home to a thriving creative ecosystem spanning film, TV, music, games and immersive media and is one of only six areas in line to receive £25m from the UK Government’s Creative Places Growth Fund.
Employing more than 15,000 people and contributing £1.2bn to the local economy, the City Region is home to
one of the fastest‑growing creative clusters in the country, with productivity levels well above the regional average.
Liverpool is the UK’s most filmed city outside London and recent targeted investment in the film and TV industry has delivered a string of award-winning productions and accelerated growth.
With new production facilities up and running, millions of pounds is earmarked to massively expand capacity through the flagship Littlewoods Studios development.
The City Region is home to 50 active gaming companies including PlayStation, and innovations in music –
including a Music Lab linked to the UKRI MusicFutures Creative Cluster – are reinforcing Liverpool’s UNESCO City of Music status.
Liverpool’s high-profile Baltic Triangle is among several City Region clusters that bring together freelancers, startups and established firms in vibrant, collaborative environments – driving economic growth, social impact and global relevance.
6500
Digital & Creative companies employing over 51,000 professionals (including 20,000 freelancers)
£210M
National Centre for Digital Innovation driving AI and Big Data expertise
212km
Full-fibre, gigabit-capable network infrastructure
48%
Growth versus 29% across the rest of the UK
57%
Increase in digital productivity
38%
Growth in digital businesses since 2010
9th
In the world for hosting a thriving start-up ecosystem
FAST
One of the UK’s fastest growing tech sectors
Next-generation technologies and facilities
Some of the most advanced computing, data and AI technologies are located at the Hartree National Centre for Digital Innovation, Sci-Tech Daresbury. With a critical mass of expertise and partners including IBM Research, Atos and Intel, the centre’s experts work with the industry and research community to accelerate the adoption of high-performance technologies.
There’s a strong network of incubator and tech clusters across the region providing access to high quality facilities and creative collaborations. The Baltic Triangle is the epicentre of Liverpool’s digital, creative and tech sectors, with some of the city’s most innovative digital enterprises located there.
Liverpool was named 7th in the 2024 annual list of the Best Cities in the World by Time Out, scoring 89% for the affordability of its arts and culture scene, more so than any other city on the list.
The Knowledge Quarter in Liverpool brings together some of the most influential players in science, health technology, culture and education to create a world-leading urban innovation district.
Whether you’re in health-tech, e-commerce, sci-tech or the creative digital sector, you can fast-track R&D and proof of concept in our state-of-the-art facilities.
Workers at the Hartree Centre, Sci-Tech Daresbury
KEY FACTS & FIGURES
One of the fastest-growing tech sectors in the UK
Over 4,000 digital companies employing over 20,000 people
National Centre for Digital Innovation driving AI and Big Data expertise
Digital productivity increase of 41%, higher than the rest of England
“As a technology start-up business, we were drawn to Liverpool City Region due to the facilities and networking opportunities available at Sci-Tech Daresbury. Since we have been based here, we have secured Future Innovation Funding to build a solution that monitors the safety and integrity of building materials; increased our employee count by 57% and been voted as a business to watch in the region.”
Niamh Allen
Sales and Marketing Director at IoT Horizon
Testing the latest VR technology
Scale at pace with fast connectivity and tailored support
Our thriving tech clusters draw on a range of digital assets from superfast broadband and big data centres to industrial supercomputers and high-performance computing.
As one of the most digitally connected regions in the UK, businesses here benefit from access to a 212km full-fibre, gigabit-capable network infrastructure, and high-speed transatlantic connectivity. As well as direct access to key internet exchanges including London, Paris and Amsterdam. We are also developing the UK’s largest 5G mesh network providing even greater speed and connectivity to consumers.
Sector-specific investment vehicles that focus on high-growth tech start-ups and SMEs include Arête Investments, the MSIF, and LCR Angel Network. They provide investment support and guidance at all stages of growth and development.
Alongside an excellent talent pool, our digital economy has grown by 48% in the last decade – outstripping the rest of the UK.
Match that with our diverse culture, ability to leverage successful partnerships and you have a prime UK location for growing tech or creative business.
A skilled talent pool with everything on their doorstep
Thanks to the presence of a thriving gaming sector, and our proximity to key e-commerce retailers, we attract and retain top candidates across the digital, tech and creative sectors.
This includes 250,000+ students that develop specialist expertise at one of the 12 universities within the City Region’s catchment area. 50% of graduates who move away to study return back to Liverpool City Region.
Academic excellence supporting the tech sector is strong, with the University of Liverpool having one of the UK’s top-rated Computer Science Departments – rated the top for 4* and 3* research.
The City of Liverpool College’s Digital Academy, a groundbreaking partnership between college and industry, provides budding digital experts with real-world experience. The academy was the first in the world to be awarded Microsoft Associate College status.
And it’s no surprise we attract and retain such a strong pool of talent. Those living here benefit from miles of beautiful coastline and beaches; a rich and diverse cultural offering; iconic art galleries and museums; and an unmatched food, music, nightlife and shopping scene.
Student at City of Liverpool College Digital Academy
Whether it’s access to employees, world-leading innovations or expert partnerships, you’ll find it all here.
Get in touch
Whatever your business ambition, requirement or opportunity in the UK and Europe – talk to one of our team to see how we can help. We are in the business of delivering value, success and excellence for our clients and we’re waiting to speak with you.
News & Events
Liverpool City Region to send big delegation to MIPIM 2026
The Liverpool City Region is set to make one of its strongest ever appearances at the world’s leading real estate event, MIPIM 2026, to promote £11bn of investment opportunities. A total of 30 organisations will join Mayor Steve Rotheram in Cannes, from 9-13 March, to showcase several transformative, investment-ready schemes. The unique private-public sector delegation …
Mayor hails ‘fantastic vote of confidence’ as Chinese auto firm announces first European HQ in Liverpool
Chinese company Chery Commercial Vehicle (CCV) is set to establish its first European headquarters in Liverpool – one of the most significant projects for the city’s advanced manufacturing sector in recent years. The move positions Liverpool city region at the forefront of Europe’s fast growing electric vehicle sector. The new headquarters will act as the …
Liverpool named as European Capital of Innovation finalist
The European Commission has today announced the fi nalists of the 2026 European Capital of Innovation Awards (iCapital), celebrating cities at the forefront of urban innovation for over a decade. Supported by the European Innovation Council under Horizon Europe, the iCapital prize is awarded to cities that act as front-runners in leveraging innovation to shape …
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Whatever your business ambition, requirement or opportunity – talk to one of our team to see how we can help. We are in the business of delivering value, success and excellence and we’re waiting to speak with you.
