The UK Government has named fourteen flagship projects under a new Regional Tech Booster programme, a £1 million package designed to stimulate local tech ecosystems and create jobs across Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and every English region.
The scheme will fund targeted training, mentoring, network-building and scaling support, with delivery led by the UK Tech Cluster Group (UKTCG). The aim is to ensure the benefits of the UK’s tech economy reach communities outside London as part of the Government’s Plan for Change.
Projects include support for early-stage gaming start-ups in Scotland, new pathways from further education to entrepreneurship in Lancashire, scale-up support in Yorkshire, an AI innovation challenge in Wales, and work to accelerate advanced connectivity technologies in Suffolk. Other strands will focus on improving diversity in tech, with a Northern Ireland project to boost AI adoption among founders and a West Midlands initiative to help under-represented founders build networks and support.
The Government says the programme sits alongside wider efforts to decentralise tech growth, including the recent designation of a further AI Growth Zone in the North East and commitments under the UK-US Tech Prosperity Deal.
“We want UK tech to grow and succeed from any and every corner of the country. 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,” said Tech for Growth Minister, Kanishka Narayan MP.
The scheme comes after figures show that many UK companies are yet to see clear returns from AI projects, with 60% reporting no material value to date and only 35% scaling AI at enterprise level. Programme backers argue that success will hinge on embedding data readiness, talent pipelines and governance frameworks locally, rather than funding tools alone.
In addition to managing the funding, mentoring, network-building and scaling support, the UK Tech Cluster Group will also run workshops on ecosystem planning and share best practice with local authorities.
Dr David Dunn, UKTCG lead on Catalyst Pilot Project, commented, “The sheer volume of strong applications we received shows there is a huge desire to grow tech ecosystems across the whole of the UK. As the projects are delivered, we are excited to share learning across other ecosystems – it is this multiplier effect of knowledge transfer that really makes the Regional Tech Booster initiative valuable.”
Industry reaction
Stuart Harvey, CEO of Datactics, said regional initiatives must embed strong data foundations if they are to deliver durable AI benefits. He noted, “The government’s move to fund regional tech projects is a welcome one, particularly the investment in AI skills for tech founders. However, it’s vital that founders, businesses and communities across the UK are given the core data skills that are critical for successfully embedding AI in society.
“This means understanding how to identify what data is suitable and ready for AI, using tried and tested data quality and data governance approaches to ensure that local startups and firms don’t just build things, they build them with integrity. Without these strong foundations, we risk amplifying errors, bias, and inefficiencies across society. These regional projects present a tremendous opportunity to elevate communities, by not only giving them tools and capital, but by instilling the data management practices that make innovation reliable, trustworthy, and resilient.”
Sachin Agrawal, Managing Director for Zoho UK, welcomed the attempt to spread benefits more widely while cautioning against pilot-only progress. He concluded, “Regional programmes like the Tech Booster are a crucial step toward making sure the benefits of AI and data innovation are distributed fairly across the UK, not just in London. For businesses, the opportunity lies not just in adopting AI tools, but in developing the skills, governance, and readiness to apply them responsibly at scale.”
“However, many initiatives will fail to move beyond pilots if they don’t embed data quality, governance, and structured training at their core. This is where local ecosystems must ensure that innovation isn’t just about access to funding, but about building sustainable capacity and trust in the use of AI.”
“Looking ahead, government, educators, and industry need to collaborate on long-term frameworks that support regional skills pipelines, help firms embed strong governance practices, and ensure access to ethical AI training for both technical and non-technical staff. This requires balancing global expertise with deep investment in local ecosystems, nurturing talent, strengthening regional economies, and ensuring that AI innovation benefits the communities where it is deployed, not just centralised hubs. By doing so, we can unlock innovation that is inclusive, reliable, and future-ready, giving businesses and communities across the UK the tools to thrive in the AI era.”
