Scaleup programmes
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Cambridge Cluster Insights
Infrastructure
Impact for scaleups
102,000
Companies identified
234
Scaleups identified
23,010
Employment by scaleups
£6.4bn
Turnover of scaleups
38.6%
Turnover increase of life science scaleups
24.1%
employment increase of ICT scaleups
Key sectors
The Cambridge Cluster Insights provides a data-driven view of the Cambridge ecosystem, widely recognised as “Silicon Fen”. As a hub for life sciences, technology, and innovation, the region drives UK economic growth and global scientific advancement. Developed by the University of Cambridge in collaboration with industry leaders, the tool supports scaling businesses in Cambridge and 14 neighbouring districts, helping them attract talent, customers, and investment.
The dataset includes over 102,000 companies and limited partnerships, tracking employment and turnover trends over 13 years. This enables local stakeholders to assess the scale, composition, and growth trajectory of economic activity. The latest analysis confirms sustained employment growth in Knowledge-Intensive (KI) sectors since 2010, with non-KI businesses experiencing more varied trends.
Business and science parks remain key drivers of innovation and growth, attracting strong stakeholder interest. Cambridge Ahead highlighted their role in scaling businesses and investment, while research has shaped local policy, helping councils across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough respond to COVID-19 and cost-of-living challenges.
Further insights into Cambridge’s innovation landscape are reflected in Cambridge Innovation in Numbers, published by the University of Cambridge, and the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough State of the Region Review, which assesses the region’s economic, social, and environmental landscape.
Greater Cambridge’s business ecosystem remains resilient, consistently outperforming national employment trends, with Knowledge-Intensive Services and High-Tech Manufacturing leading growth. The April 2024 Update reinforces this strength despite macroeconomic and geopolitical challenges.
Recent updates to Cambridge Cluster Insights, including Power BI enhancements, ensure insights remain accessible via CBR and Cambridge Ahead, supporting analysis, benchmarking, and decision-making for businesses, investors, and policymakers.
A new impact assessment of the Babraham Research Campus (BRC), conducted with Cambridge Economic Associates, Cambridge Econometrics, and Savills, builds on previous 2020 research, assessing BRC’s economic impact and strategic value. Findings will inform future development and the campus’s role in the regional and national innovation ecosystem.
