On behalf of Tech North, I couldn’t be happier to announce that Martin Bryant will be joining our team in early May.

Martin is currently Editor at Large for The Next Web, one of Europe’s most popular tech media outlets. He joined TNW in 2009 and over the years has served as its UK Editor, European Editor, Managing Editor and Editor in Chief.

Martin also has a great track record supporting the tech industry in Manchester and across the wider North. He’s co-founded Social Media Manchester Café, Tech Hub Manchester and SpaceportX. He’s also served as a Council Member for Manchester Digital since 2012. Martin was born and raised in Bradford and was educated at Leeds University.

Martin joins as Tech North’s first Community Editor. He’ll be immersing himself in the tech communities across the North helping provide a voice for the people, companies, organisations and ideas that are pioneering the new digital economy of the North. He’ll be part of a growing content and communications team that’s led by Vicki Shiel (Head of Content) and Jenny Hartley (Deputy Head of Tech North).

As Tech North evolves, we need to make available essential information about the North’s tech leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, makers and innovators. The success of Tech City UK’s Tech Nation report has illustrated the powerful impact TCUK & Tech North can make in addressing information failures that hold back venture deal flow, talent attraction, inward investment, risk-taking and collaboration.

I’ve been working with Martin since 2011 when I invited him to speak at TEDxManchester. His provocative TEDx talk – Where Are the Manchester Startups? – proved to be a catalyst which led eventually to the creation of SpaceportX.

I’m excited to be collaborating with Martin once again; this time to relay the extraordinary stories of an emerging tech-based economy in the North.

I hope you will join me in welcoming Martin to the team.

Herb Kim

Interim Head of Tech North