What do the 2025 Local Digital Index findings show?

25th November 2025

The tech sector is now contributing £101billion in Gross Value Added (GVA), employing around 1.7m people and has a 3-year projected growth of 8.9%.

The sector continues to host world classes companies, digital economies and local ecosystems in London, Oxford and Cambridge but also in Edinburgh, Manchester and Bristol.

Releasing the findings, techUK called for urgent UK Government action to ensure that regional economies can attract investment, connect businesses, and develop the skills that will define the UK's digital future.

It's clear that there have, and are, success stories but also challenges. The UK's tech sector and digital economy isn't immune from the wider economic situation, and the UK government must help grow the sector by backing those who can help grow the economy.

techUK's Index and report notes that:
Overall growth for the digital sector has forecast of 8.9%, above the UK average. However, the projected rate has decreased slightly since last year's index.

London, Oxford, and Cambridge (the Golden Triangle) still account for a disproportionate share of digital investment.

Gigabit broadband coverage has risen sharply since 2020, from 27.7% to well over 90% in the West Midlands.

5G coverage across the North West has now reached 79.1%, using better technology to improve upon the 82.5% for 4G recorded in 2022.

STEM job demand is highest in Greater Manchester, however, digital graduates are most concentrated in Westminster, Camden, Birmingham, Nottingham, and Manchester.

Wales leads the UK for local government ICT spend with SMEs, showing how procurement can boost local tech ecosystems.

Recommendations
Our recommendations to the UK Government are:

Catalyse regional investment: Expand investment funds, improve investor engagement, and strengthen innovation finance beyond the South East.
Accelerate digital infrastructure: Fully fund broadband and 5G rollout, provide business rates relief, and improve mapping of commercial connectivity.

Align skills with demand: Reform the skills levy for flexible training, empower local governments to invest in inclusion, and leverage universities as regional skills hubs.

Scotland offers enormous opportunities to drive UK-wide economic growth through innovation - from deep research capabilities at our world-leading universities to a strong track record in strategic sectors like life sciences and advanced manufacturing and an expanding ecosystem of innovative and enterprising start-ups.

The Scottish Government continues to stand square behind our technology sector to ensure we capitalise on these opportunities, drive investment and create jobs - and I wholeheartedly agree with techUK's assessment that the skills, talents and opportunities that lie across the UK must be supported strategically and equitably.
Kate Forbes Deputy First Minister

Understanding the Growth of the UK's Digital Economy

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