About Us

Who We Are

The UK Tech Cluster Group is a national network of regional organisations dedicated to growing and supporting the tech industry across the UK.

Each member is embedded in their local ecosystem and bring deep knowledge of the businesses, talent and challenges in their area. Together, we champion place-based innovation and drive sustainable growth that reflects the strengths and ambitions of every region.

Our Board

TBC
Organisation TBC
NORTHERN IRELAND

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Karen Meechan
Scotland IS
SCOTLAND

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David Dunn
Sunderland Software City
NORTH EAST

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Mel Kanarek
Sheffield Digital
SOUTH YORKSHIRE

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Stuart Clarke
Leeds Digital
WEST YORKSHIRE

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Chair
Katie Gallagher
Manchester Digital
NORTH WEST

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Yiannis Maos
Tech WM
WEST MIDLANDS

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Nigel Lambe
Sussex Innovation
SOUTH EAST ENGLAND

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Tim Robinson
Tech East
EAST ENGLAND

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Ben Shorrock
techSPARK
SOUTH WEST

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Mark John
Tramshed Tech
WALES

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John Connolly
C4DI
WEST YORKSHIRE

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We believe that strong regional tech ecosystems are essential to building a more inclusive, productive and globally competitive UK tech economy.

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Contact Us

If you have any questions about UK Tech Cluster Group or require more info on how to join then please get in touch using the form below.

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Email:
karen.meechan@scotlandis.com

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Karen Meechan

ScotlandIS
SCOTLAND

Karen is Chief Operating Officer of ScotlandIS, the membership body for the industry. She is a passionate supporter of the Scottish digital tech industry and has been for over 15 years.

Karen is a passionate supporter of the Scottish digital tech industry and has been for over 15 years. As Chief Operating Officer of ScotlandIS, the membership body for the industry, she oversees a team of 17 and is inspired daily by meeting and talking to our members who create technology solutions that change the way we all live. One of the greatest parts of her job is watching these companies take something from little more than an idea on paper, to a hugely successful business.

Email:
david.dunn@sunderlandsoftwarecity.com
Phone:
0191 5623345

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David Dunn

Sunderland Software City
NORTH EAST

Experienced Chief Executive Officer with a demonstrated history of working in the information technology and services industry.

Experienced Chief Executive Officer with a demonstrated history of working in the information technology and services industry. Skilled in Business Planning, Market Research, Management, Start-ups, and Leadership. Strong business development professional with a Professional Doctorate focused in Economic Development and MBA from Durham University.

Email:
mel@sheffield.digital

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Mel Kanarek

Sheffield Digital
SOUTH YORKSHIRE

Co-founder and director of Sheffield Digital, Mel is also a freelance consultant specialising in the digital economy.

Mel works to strengthen South Yorkshire’s tech ecosystem through partnership, advocacy and community engagement. She brings deep insight into the needs of digital businesses outside major hubs and plays an active role in UKTCG’s work to embed ecosystem intelligence in policy. Mel champions inclusive tech growth, supports founder communities, and collaborates with regional stakeholders to align local strengths with national initiatives. Her work ensures the Sheffield city region is represented in conversations about the future of the UK’s digital economy.

Email:
stuart.clarke@
Phone:
01xx xxxxx

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Stuart Clarke, MBE

Founder, Leeds Digital Festival
West Yorkshire

Stuart is the founder of Leeds Digital Festival and a long-standing advocate for the North’s tech ecosystem. Through his work, he has built one of the UK’s most vibrant and inclusive tech events, connecting startups, scaleups, corporates and investors.

Stuart brings strong convening power and deep knowledge of ecosystem dynamics to UKTCG, helping amplify regional voices on a national stage. He plays a key role in showcasing the strength of Leeds and the wider Yorkshire tech scene, and supports UKTCG’s mission to ensure all regions can contribute to – and benefit from – the UK’s tech economy.

Email:
katie@manchesterdigital.com
Phone:
0161 238 8642

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Katie Gallagher, OBE

Managing Director, Manchester Digital & Chair, UK Tech Cluster Group
NORTH WEST

Katie leads Manchester Digital and chairs UKTCG, championing the role of regional ecosystems in driving growth, skills and innovation.

She’s played a central role in shaping local delivery of national programmes, building a strong voice for regional tech at Westminster. A respected advocate for inclusive growth and skills reform, Katie brings two decades of experience influencing public policy and delivering real impact on the ground.

Email:
yiannis@birmingham.tech

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Yiannis Maos

Tech WM
WEST MIDLANDS

Yiannis is the CEO of Birmingham Tech and the founder of Birmingham Tech Week. He has over 15 years of experience in technology, marketing and CX.

Yiannis specialises in helping innovative brands achieve fast-growth by developing strategic customer relationships. During his career, he has been named Central England’s Young Entrepreneur of the Year, spoken at some of the UK’s top business schools and mentored young marketers as part of Google’s Squared programme.

Email:
nigel.lambe@
Phone:
01xx xxxxx

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Nigel Lambe

CEO, Sussex Innovation
SOUTH EAST ENGLAND

Nigel leads Sussex Innovation and brings commercial and investment experience to the UKTCG network.

He focuses on helping innovation-driven firms scale in and beyond their region, and supports the development of a more cohesive, commercially sustainable cluster support model. Nigel plays a key role in developing UKTCG’s engagement with universities and private capital.

Email:
tim@techeast.com
Phone:
01473 694833

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Tim Robinson

Chief Operating Officer, Tech East
EAST OF ENGLAND

Tim is COO at Tech East and a leading voice for the East of England’s digital sector. He brings strategic insight and delivery expertise to UKTCG’s work on digital adoption, startup growth and ecosystem coordination.

Tim works closely with industry, local authorities and universities to position the region as a tech hub of national importance. His focus is on building scalable support for tech SMEs, increasing investment into regional innovation, and ensuring local companies benefit from national opportunities and policy.

Email:
ben@techspark.co

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Ben Shorrock

TechSPARK
SOUTH WEST

Ben has been working to help grow tech and digital business for the last decade. He is CEO of TechSPARK who work with 35,000 people a month to help them recruit, network and raise capital in the UK’s most productive tech cluster.

Prior to working for TechSPARK, Ben worked in consultancy with businesses opening new sites internationally. In this role he helped set up Invest Bristol & Bath and the Netherlands consulate for the north of England supporting over 100 companies invest in the UK and enabling 3000+ jobs. Ben is an assessment lead for TechNation’s exceptional talent visa, which considers whether potential applicants are globally leading talent and entitled to UK residency.  

Ben is a co-founder of Bristol Tech Festival and sits on the boards of Bath Digital Festival, Bristol’s One City Board and the UK Cyber Clusters Collaboration.

Email:
mark@tramshedtech.co.uk

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Mark John

Co-founder & COO, Tramshed Tech
WALES

Mark leads Tramshed Tech, a key driver of Wales’ tech ecosystem, supporting startups, scaleups and innovation across the region.

With a focus on creating high-impact, inclusive spaces for entrepreneurs, Mark brings a commercial and collaborative approach to ecosystem building. Through UKTCG, he represents the voice of Welsh tech in national policy discussions and helps share best practice across devolved nations. Mark is committed to growing sustainable tech businesses by connecting founders with the networks, skills and investment they need to succeed.

Email:
john.connolly

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John Connolly

Managing Director, C4DI
WEST YORKSHIRE

John leads C4DI, one of the UK’s most successful privately run tech incubators, driving innovation-led growth across the Humber and wider North.

His work connects startups with corporate partners, helping founders commercialise ideas and deliver real-world impact. John brings a strong private sector perspective to UKTCG, with a focus on distributed innovation, place-based investment and building stronger regional supply chains. He plays a vital role in shaping how tech can power traditional industries, from logistics to offshore energy, and supports UKTCG’s work on embedding local strengths in national growth strategies.