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Discover how the Leeds Digital Festival Innovation Hub celebrates excellence at the 2025 Northern Tech Awards, recognizing top tech innovators in the North.

Celebrating Excellence in Northern Tech

The 2025 Northern Tech Awards, held on April 24th at the iconic Titanic Hotel in Liverpool, marked another milestone in celebrating technological innovation across Northern England. This prestigious event, now in its twelfth edition, was expertly hosted by presenter Georgie Barrat and saw the convergence of over 250 CEOs, entrepreneurs, and business leaders from the digital economy. The Leeds Innovation Hub played a pivotal role in orchestrating this celebration, highlighting the dynamic and resilient tech ecosystem in the North.

Highlights from the 2025 Awards

One of the standout moments of the evening was the inspiring fireside chat with Graeme Ankers, the entrepreneur behind Firesprite. Graeme shared his extraordinary journey of scaling Firesprite from a startup to the largest independent development studio in Merseyside, eventually leading to its acquisition by Sony PlayStation in 2021. Such stories underscore the innovation and growth that the Northern Tech Awards aim to recognize and promote.

The awards featured a diverse range of categories, from the Fastest Growing Company of the Year awarded to UrbanChain, to the Judges’ Innovation Award won by Summize. These accolades not only honor the current achievements of these companies but also inspire future innovators to strive for excellence.

Role of Leeds Innovation Hub

The Leeds Digital Festival Innovation Hub is at the heart of fostering a collaborative and innovative tech community in Yorkshire. By leveraging the open and inclusive spirit of the Leeds Digital Festival, the Innovation Hub offers an array of workshops, talks, networking opportunities, and hands-on demonstrations. These activities are designed to foster continuous engagement and innovation, ensuring that the momentum gained during the festival extends throughout the year.

As the festival celebrates its 10th anniversary, the Innovation Hub has become an essential platform for tech enthusiasts, creators, and entrepreneurs to collaborate and share ideas. Special themes each day, representing sectors like health tech, fintech, and creative industries, ensure that there is something for everyone, further bridging gaps between different tech sectors.

Building a Vibrant Tech Community in Yorkshire

The Innovation Hub’s integration with local universities and colleges has been instrumental in creating mentorship programs that connect students with industry experts. This initiative not only benefits the students by providing real-world experience but also helps bridge the skills gap prevalent in many digital economy sectors. By fostering these connections, the Hub contributes significantly to building a vibrant and sustainable innovation ecosystem in Leeds and the broader Yorkshire region.

Moreover, the Hub’s digital platform allows for sustained engagement by providing access to event recordings and archives of talks long after the festival concludes. This feature ensures continuous knowledge sharing and community building, positioning Leeds as a leading tech city in the UK.

Conclusion

The 2025 Northern Tech Awards epitomize the thriving tech landscape in Northern England, with the Leeds Innovation Hub playing a crucial role in nurturing and celebrating this growth. By providing a dedicated space for collaboration, innovation, and continuous engagement, the Hub ensures that Leeds remains at the forefront of technological advancement.

Join us in celebrating and fostering the next wave of tech innovation. Visit the Leeds Digital Festival today!