CHELTENHAM’S CYBER PARK AMBITIONS MOVE FORWARD

The West Midlands is to invest in “no-code” technology to help drive economic growth.

SuperTech, a collaboration between some of the region’s largest businesses and emerging technology companies, aims to increase tech development in professional services, with fully funded no-code training bootcamps forming part of its central offering, provided by the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership.

Predicted by Forbes to be the most disruptive trend in 2021, no-code allows absolutely anyone, no matter what their technical ability or financial position, to develop and launch complicated web or mobile apps in a fraction of the time it took in 2019.

Analysis shows that in 2019 what would have required an average of £250,000 investment, 18 months of development and directors or founders with relevant degrees, can now be achieved in a few months with anywhere between zero and £500 worth of investment.

No-code is seen as a way of solving business problems, launching new services and products and creating new enterprises.

Tech giants Amazon, Google and Microsoft have invested heavily in no-code platforms and now the West Midlands has adopted it as part of a plan to grow its largest sector: business, professional and financial services.

Generating £27.8 billion gross value added annually and employing more than 358,000 people, the West Midlands is the UK’s largest centre for business, professional and financial services outside the capital. Greater collaboration between these larger firms and the region’s 12,550 tech and digital companies, the largest grouping of its kind outside of London, is a key part of the region’s Local Industrial Strategy.

By Ian Mean, Gloucestershire director of Business West

and Board member of GFirst LEP

Next month, one of three major developers will be appointed to deliver, at something like half a billion pounds, one of the biggest projects ever built in Gloucestershire.

I am talking about what has become known as the Cheltenham Cyber Park, on land purchased by Cheltenham Borough Council for £37.5 million.

The Golden Valley Development, home of Cyber Central UK, will become the UK’s premier centre for cyber security and all things digital.

Much about the development has been under wraps, so I talked to the man in charge of Golden Valley, Tim Atkins, aptly titled Managing Director of Place and Growth at Cheltenham Borough Council.

What does your title mean? I asked.

“Making Cheltenham an even better place, to grow the economy and provide hope and prosperity for future generations,” he said.

“In June we hope to have a preferred bidder confirmed,” added Tim, a Tottenham born lad who spent most of his younger life in Middlesbrough.

“We will not make the developer public until close to the end of the year, as we need to make sure all the contractual details are finalised.

“We want this investment to be about growth not just for Cheltenham but the whole of Gloucestershire. It is potentially huge.”

Tim is right. Did any of us really know that there could be up to 11,700 employees on the site?

I also didn’t realise how many homes will be built on the overall Golden Valley site which amounts to 200 hectares (similar to the size of the City of London).

The 2019 Supplementary Planning Document sets out a framework for delivery of up to 3,700 new homes, 35 per cent of which will be affordable.

“2019 also saw the Golden Valley Development included in the Government’s Garden Communities programme – building on the principles of the garden town/city movement, and setting a high standard for new sustainable communities,” said Tim.

The first delivery phases would see the council’s 45-hectare site, and an adjoining 65 hectares of Severn Trent land, being developed for homes. But this won’t be just another business park or housing estate, it will be an employment-led scheme: the delivery of the cyber and innovation uses must come forward early.

This is a ground-breaking project to grow our economy and persuade more young people to stay in the county.

Our communities and businesses need clear communication in the coming months to fully get behind it. We will have another update for you in our July issue.