Leeds’ Bruntwood SciTech has appointed Deb Hetherington as Head of Innovation to help drive growth of the city’s digital and tech sector.
Hetherington joins from Leeds Beckett University, where she was business innovation manager, and is a member of the city region’s LEP innovation panel, a board member of the Leeds Digital Festival and co-founder of Women in Leeds Digital.
She will work closely with businesses based at Platform to deliver business support and work in partnership with the city’s public, private, academic and clinical institutions to create high value jobs in the sector and drive economic growth.
Bruntwood SciTech, the 50:50 joint venture between Bruntwood and Legal & General, creates environments and ecosystems that enable companies in the science and technology sector to form, collaborate, scale and grow.
Craig Burrow, director Bruntwood – Leeds, said: “Deb’s experience, connections and reputation in the city are second to none and the role she’s already played in supporting the growth of start-ups and scale-ups in the city’s digital and tech sector speaks volumes. She’s going to be instrumental in both the growth and success of the tech community in Leeds.
Hetherington added: “Opportunities to play a key role in a city’s economic growth don’t come along every day, let alone at such a critical time for the city and the sector.
“Collaboration between businesses and partners is vital if Leeds is going to flourish as a leading UK hub for the digital and tech community.
“I’m really looking forward to working with all the great companies based at Platform many of whom are at the forefront of disrupting their industry and supporting them to achieve their business goals and ambitions”.
Platform includes Leeds’ only dedicated start-up Tech Incubator, and companies including 2020 Queen’s Award recipient CPOMS, coding school Northcoders, diabetes management platform DigiBete, and legaltech company rradar.
