Software giant Sage and Northumbria University have been announced as the new sponsors of Digital Union.
Digital Union is the largest network of digital, creative and technology businesses in the North East.
Sage, the market leader in cloud business management solutions, and Northumbria University will play an important role in driving forward the vision of the membership organisation.
The announcement comes as Digital Union membership tops the 200 mark, with more and more businesses flocking to be part of the network, which brings together like-minded businesses to collaborate and share ideas, whilst providing access to vital business support services and lobbying key policymakers on behalf of the region鈥檚 digital and tech sectors.
Jim Mawdsley, CEO at business support agency Generator, which runs Digital Union, said: 鈥淲e鈥檙e thrilled to welcome both Sage and Northumbria University as Digital Union sponsors.
鈥淭hey are both leaders within their fields and bring with them a wealth of insight and experience that will strengthen the support we provide to growing businesses, whilst and adding further gravitas to our collective voice on the national stage.
鈥淐ollaboration is key as we attempt to bridge the digital and tech talent and skills gap in the North East and position our thriving creative digital and tech sectors as key players both nationally, and internationally.
鈥淲e鈥檙e excited by what Northumbria University and Sage will bring to the table and we look forward to working closely with them in the future.鈥�
Within their role as sponsors, Sage and Northumbria University will help shape the agenda for the Digital Union network, whilst playing a part in the wide range of workshops, seminars and networking events hosted by the organisation throughout the year.
Andrew McFetrich, Talent Acquisition Partner at Sage UK, said: 鈥淒igital Union helps tech and digital businesses to grow against a Brexit-induced backdrop.
鈥淭his important work helps to ensure our region鈥檚 digital and tech scenes continue to thrive.
鈥淎s a global business that proudly started here more than 35 years ago, it makes perfect sense for Sage to support and help champion this.
鈥淲e鈥檙e passionate about working with the entrepreneurs in this country. We鈥檙e excited to share some of our experiences with the industry.
鈥淭his includes what we have learnt over the time since we launched as a start-up in Newcastle, but also some of the experiences from the thousands of businesses we work with throughout the UK.
鈥淭his is a two-way process though and we鈥檙e hoping we can learn from some of the fantastic innovative businesses we have in the region.鈥�
Lucy Winskell OBE, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Employability and Partnerships) at Northumbria, added: 鈥淥ur academics are already carrying out world class research in digital design and technology, creating new knowledge which is both a powerful learning opportunity for our students and valuable resource for our business partners.
鈥淲e are delighted, therefore, to be part of the Digital Union collaboration 鈥� it will help us enhance the employability of our graduates and, more widely, support the region and the UK鈥檚 burgeoning creative and digital technology sector.
鈥淟ike Sage, we also have a clear focus on entrepreneurial success. As the UK鈥檚 top-ranked university for graduate start-up businesses we have supported the development of more than 200 companies in the past 10 years 鈥� with many innovative new digital and tech-based enterprises.鈥�