The city boasts the nation’s second largest pool of AI talent and is hunting for more
Accenture’s Tech Talent Tracker, which analyses LinkedIn’s Professional Network data, has found that Cambridge’s strong academic foundations and collaboration between academics and entrepreneurs is paying off. The city currently has the second largest pool of AI talent in the country and the fourth largest pool of tech talent overall.
Today, almost 9,000 professionals in emerging technology are based in Cambridge – 42% of whom are specialists in AI – with 4,300 jobs currently being advertised in the city. That puts Cambridge behind London but firmly ahead of other budding tech hubs like Newcastle, Liverpool, Brighton and Bristol, although competition for talent remains fierce.
“Cambridge is a hotbed of innovation,” said Zahra Bahrololoumi, Head of Technology for Accenture UK. “Many companies have opened AI facilities in the area and the universities are delivering pioneering research in the field. The city is attractive because it provides the access, talent and mentorship that is so vital for both early-stage and enterprise tech companies. As this pool of experts continues to grow, more businesses will see the appeal of re-locating themselves – or parts of their organisation – to Cambridge.”
Britain’s technology sector saw £27billion of investment between 2013 and 2018, and is growing one-and-a-half times faster than other industries. Zahra Bahrololoumi continued: “London is currently the default choice for many, but the capital is far from the only option. Availability of talent is one of the biggest factors in establishing a successful technology business. The more that this talent is rooted in places like Cambridge, the more that businesses will need to move themselves to where the people are.”
UK Talent Infographic>>>
Methodology
Accenture analysed LinkedIn’s Professional Network data across 11 UK cities to uncover the supply and demand for those working in emerging technology – Data Analytics, Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Extended Reality and Quantum Computing.