I find the article very disappointing. In the past 10 years that I have been involved in the digital industry and networking across the North East, things have changed dramatically. There’s a tangible buzz across both the public and private sectors about what’s going on here. Its difficult to know where to start.

We have seen organisations driven by the public sector such as Digital City, IDI, Codeworks, and Software City gather momentum and profile on a local, national and international stage helping to turn around such perceptions of the North East.

These organisations are helping to promote digital innovation and playing a key role in supporting enterprise and entrepreneurship. They are encouraging great ideas to become great businesses, while supporting existing digital companies, from animation to web technologies, to expand their networks, develop their skills and access new markets.

We’ve also seen the growth of groups such as Refresh Teesside, Super Mondays, and Thursday Fizz which  are proving successful at developing new communities and generating genuinely exciting conversations. These groups, spread across the region, are driven by passionate private sector businesses and individuals to create new industry networks, meet contacts (which often in the North East become friends), share ideas, and promote collaboration.

Other organisations such as the Entrepreneurs Forum with its IfWeCanYouCan Campaign (which i understand is unique to the North East), and the members involved in them, are fully committed to harnessing the buzz by supporting businesses and signposting them to the best advice, mentoring, investment networks and resources. To be honest from what we’ve seen, the results of this have been absolutely unquestionable.

We speak to a number of people regularly (often this is at some of these great events) from digital companies in these networks including Visualsoft, THAP, Mango, AYO Media, Hedgehog Lab, Leighton Group and OrangeBus who are all, amongst others, developing enviable regional, national and in some cases, international reputations.

From both an individual and business point of view, the North East is a great place to be. For students and new graduates i feel that this is also true which seems to be backed up by this video (from Thinking Digital: The Next Generation) – http://www.vimeo.com/3878837 – i watched Paul Callaghan’s (Chairman of Leighton Group) speech at this excellent event, held in the lead up to Thinking Digital 09, and it was truly inspirational. I wish i could find the full video for this as it was first class when it came to fully justifying why the north east is the place to be for digital start up and support. I am also involved in a Codeworks project to increase critical private sector and University engagement to influence how students are prepared for the digital industry and ensure our graduates are some of the most exciting across the UK. Again, this is not a quick fix but a long term plan to build on the Universities growing reputations and continue to reverse the traditional graduate flow out of the North East.

For me, there are clear reasons why any start up or existing digital business would want to base itself in the North East.

Other responses include:
Looks like the Telegraph is taking over from Techcrunch – Sarat @ Hedgehog Lab
Reply to the Telegraphs Milo Yiannopoulos – James @ nebusiness.co.uk

A little more about Thinking Digital:

Thinking Digital is an annual conference where the world´s greatest thinkers and innovators gather to inspire, to entertain, and to discuss the latest ideas and technologies.

Defining exactly what to expect at Thinking Digital isn’t easy. The conference prides itself on the eclectic nature of the schedule. One moment you’ll be experiencing a first UK appearance of Live Mesh (as attendees where treated to at Thinking Digital 2008) and the next you’ll be hearing about the science behind love from the world’s leading expert.

For all the latest updates please visit http://www.thinkingdigital.co.uk or follow ThinkingDigital (http://twitter.com/ThinkingDigital) on Twitter.

Why not get involved in Twestival, a party in 50+ cities around the world on 12th February 2009. Funds raised go to Charity Water. Newcastle’s Twestival party, for tweeters across the North East, will be in Newcastle. And you’re invited!

On 12 February 2009 cities around the world will be hosting Twestivals which bring together Twitter communities for an evening of fun and to raise money and awareness for charity: water.

Join the Twestival campaign by hosting a Twestival in your city, attending an event, or participating online.

The Twestival is organized 100% by volunteers in cities around the world and 100% of the money raised from these events will go directly to support charity: water projects.

In September 2008, a group of Twitterers based in London UK decided to organise an event where the local Twitter community could socialize offline; meet the faces behind the avatars, enjoy some entertainment, have a few drinks and tie this in with a food drive and fundraising effort for a local homeless charity.

The bulk of the event was organized in under two weeks, via Twitter and utilized the talents and financial support of the local Twittersphere to make this happen.

Around the world similar stories started appearing of local Twitter communities coming together and taking action for a great cause. Twestival was born out of the idea that if cities were able to collaborate on an international scale, but working from a local level, it could have a spectacular impact.

Visit the website at http://twestival.com/ from more information or follow Twestival (http://twitter.com/tynetwestival) and Tynetwestival (http://twitter.com/twestival/) on Twitter.

There are lots of Refreshing Cities around the world but only a couple here in the UK and it’s about time that changed. The drive behind digital media in the North East seems to be focused very much in Newcastle however Teesside is home to many up and coming digital media agencies and also many freelance web designers and developers.

We want to let people know that you don’t need to live down South to be considered a Web Professional in this country.

After searching for a long time it became apparent there was nowhere locally which met with point one of the Refresh Cities Manifesto – “Let’s Gather Great Minds”… so Refresh Teesside was born.

The Refresh manifesto:

* Let’s Gather Great Minds
* Let’s Share All Of Our Knowledge
* Let’s All Grow And Learn
* Let’s Promote Local Talent
* Let’s Make Our Cities Better

Great! I’m interested – whats next?

We’ve just set the ball rolling and we need your support! We are looking for people who can regularly help with organizing events, venues and anyone interested in being partners or sponsors.

At first we don’t envisage anything mind blowing, however if you like the idea of getting together and enjoying a relaxed drink and a chat then let’s get it started!

For more information please visit www.refreshteesside.org.