Welcome to our weekly South West Tech News roundup, where you can get all the headlines from the past week in one place.
What has our busy tech and digital community been up to this week? From award wins and innovative breakthroughs to unmissable events and capital raised, take a moment to reflect on the hive of daily activity taking place in our region.
If you have a story to share, wizz it over to will@techspark.co – I look forward to hearing from you!
From January 2026, techSPARK is introducing a new, more structured and community-led approach to better support the South West tech ecosystem. All content, events and programmes will be aligned to four core community groups: Startups, Scaleups and Industry Leaders, Tech Professionals, and Investors and Ecosystem Enablers. The aim is to make activity more relevant, easier to navigate and more impactful, while still bringing the wider community together through flagship events like the SPARKies, Bath Digital Festival and BTF+.
The new model includes a free membership, clearer and more targeted communications, and better integration of online and in-person activity. Each group will benefit from tailored support, from founder clinics and peer groups to leadership roundtables, deep-dive learning and curated investor briefings. Overall, the change is designed to help people engage more meaningfully with techSPARK and get greater value from being part of the South West tech community.
Read the full press release
techSPARK has confirmed a leadership transition at Board level, with Richard Spilsbury formally taking on the role of Chair following the annual Chairs Dinner, which he hosted for the first time in his new capacity. A long-standing supporter of the South West’s innovation and scaleup community, Richard brings extensive experience working with high-growth companies and mentoring founders, marking an exciting new chapter for the organisation.
Richard succeeds Nick Sturge MBE, who has led the Board with dedication and will remain as a Non-Executive Director for the next 12 months to ensure continuity. techSPARK also welcomed Caroline Cooper to the Board, strengthening its strategic leadership alongside existing members. Together, the Board will continue to guide techSPARK’s mission to connect, celebrate and support the region’s tech community across Bristol, Bath and the wider South West.
Read the full story
techSPARK has launched the State of Tech in Bristol and Bath 2025 report, now in its third edition, offering a data-led snapshot of the region’s evolving tech and creative-tech ecosystem. The report highlights the area’s continued strengths across AI, immersive, cybersecurity, fintech, climate tech and advanced engineering, while also pointing to uneven progress as startups face ongoing challenges around scaling, investment, talent progression and access to infrastructure.
Insights from founders show particular pressure at Series A/B stage, growing concerns around mid-career talent retention, and underuse of nationally significant R&D assets such as Isambard-AI and Bristol Robotics Lab. The report calls for clearer growth pathways, stronger links between research and industry, and a renewed focus on reinvestment and mentorship to sustain momentum. The launch was marked with a reception in Bristol bringing together founders, investors and policymakers to discuss the region’s future direction.
Read more about the report
NatWest Group is set to accelerate Bristol’s thriving entrepreneurial landscape, today announcing two pivotal appointments to its Accelerator Hub.
Chris Blues and Olivia Holmes join the Bristol Accelerator team as Acceleration Managers, combining expertise in start-up growth and commercial banking with a shared mission to help businesses scale and succeed. They’ll work hands-on with entrepreneurs to turn ideas into thriving ventures.
Their arrival signals NatWest Group’s commitment to building a strong, connected community for start-ups and SMEs across the South West – creating real opportunities for growth and collaboration.
Read the full story
The UK government recently announced the launch of a new scale-up unit, operating as a joint initiative between the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA). It will focus on banks, building societies and insurers before opening up to other firms in the sector, including fintechs in 2026.