Blackpool is being tipped as a rising hub for digital innovation, with the Silicon Sands project at the heart of the town’s tech-led regeneration story.
The UK Tech Cluster Group (UKTCG), a national network supporting the tech industry, has singled out Silicon Sands – the digital campus based at Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone – for praise in its latest report on the Fylde Coast’s digital future. According to the group, the project is on track to help deliver as many as 14,000 new jobs and up to £14 billion in added value for the local economy.
For Blackpool’s business community, this is more than a tech-sector story. A project of this scale can bring thousands of new jobs and billions in investment to the Fylde Coast, and has knock-on potential for the whole town, from housing and transport to hospitality, retail, and the wider visitor economy that our BID members rely on.
The findings follow the Silicon Sands Catalyst Pilot, part of UKTCG’s Regional Tech Booster programme, which is funded by government money and backed by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. Through workshops, roundtables, and the FutureTech Live conference, the pilot brought together businesses to explore opportunities in AI adoption, digital infrastructure, connectivity, sustainability, and high-performance computing.
Shaun Fensom, secretary at Cooperative Network Infrastructure, said:
“The Silicon Sands Catalyst Pilot has demonstrated that Blackpool already possesses many of the assets needed to support a thriving digital economy.”
“What has been particularly encouraging is the willingness of organisations from very different sectors to come together around a shared vision for innovation, sustainability and growth. The conversations and connections established through this programme have created a strong foundation on which the wider Silicon Sands initiative can now build.”
As Silicon Sands moves from pilot to full delivery, Blackpool BIDs will continue to track its progress and what it could mean for businesses across the Town Centre and Tourism BID areas.