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NWDA upbeat for digital scene despite Idaho closure

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By The Drum Team, Editorial

May 26, 2010 | 3 min read

Despite Latitude going into administration in January and the closure of Idaho Technology last week, the North West Regional Development Agency (NWDA) has said that the future still looks strong for the region's digital industry.

When asked why agencies working in the seemingly buoyant field of digital would have problems, Iain Bennett, the NWDA's sector head for digital and creative, told The Drum that the "difficult economic conditions" faced across the world over the last two years would “inevitably result in some losses".

Bennett said: “As Europe’s second largest media hub, the north west and our digital and creative sector is internationally recognised for the innovation, quality and diversity of its offering. Since the mid-1990s, the sector has expanded at twice the rate of the wider UK economy – now generating just under £16 billion GVA; 16% of the region’s total output.”

He added that the NWDA and its support partners, Business Link and Vision+Media, were working hard with companies across the region to ensure they are "in good shape" and are "well placed" to grow as the economy aims to steady itself.

“It is important in the current climate to diversify the supply chain to help companies find new global opportunities and become less reliant on public sector contracts.

“I believe the future of the sector in the north west looks very strong - in fact it is considered a priority area for the north west and will be a sector in which we continue to excel for many years.

"MediaCityUK, Europe's first purpose-built business hub for the digital and creative industries, is just one exciting example of how the north west will retain its position as a leading digital location not only within the UK but across the globe.”

Last week, long-established Manchester digital agency Idaho announced that it is was to close after 13 years in business, blaming the current economic conditions and a lack of certainty over work and its own future financial position.

The NWDA's digital strategy is available to download from its website.

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