IT Support in Sheffield

Economy

As with many other cities in the UK, Sheffield has been subject to thorough redevelopment in the 21st century which has led to the gross value added increasing by 60% since the late 90s.

Valued at £11.3 billion in 2015, Sheffield's economy has been subject to a continual growth which averages out at approximately 5% year on year.

The 2008 UK Cities Monitor ranked Sheffield as being among the top ten best cities to locate a business.

Some of the companies which have either headquarters or significant bases within the city include Spear & Jackson, Warp Records, the Boeing Company, Henry Boot PLC, B. Braun, and Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire.

Technology

As with many other UK cities, the 21st century has seen a move away from traditional industries to the development of the tech and digital sectors in the city.

Sheffield has over 22,000 technology roles, and it is estimated that approximately 10,000 new jobs will be created in this sector by 2024.

The city is home to Sheffield Digital, an employer association who provide various types of information, support and advice for those working in the tech sector.

The city's universities produce approximately 700 computing and computer science graduates annually, many of whom will remain in the city to seek employment, thanks to Sheffield's renowned for its creative technologies, mobility tech, and learning technologies.

One of the country's largest games developers, Sumo Digital, is based within Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University is host to the world's biggest Sony PlayStation teaching lab.

Factory 2050, a collaborative digital factory built to facilitate the development and research of new technologies in automation and robotics, is situated on the outskirts of Sheffield.

Public Sector

The biggest employers in Sheffield these days are all public sector, comprising the NHS, the two universities, and national and local government workers for departments and agencies such as the Home Office and Sheffield City Council.

Fees from international students also contribute a significant source of income for the city, valued at £120m annually.

Sheffield's public sector employees number over 77,000 and, from 1995 – 2008, the city saw a growth of 50% for jobs within this sector.

Tourism

The tourism sector contributes a significant part to Sheffield's economy with attractions such as the Peak District attracting visitors from both within the UK and around the rest of the world.

As of 2019, Sheffield's tourism sector was estimated to be worth £1.36 billion and was responsible for around 15,000 jobs.

Events in Sheffield such the World Snooker Championship which is held annually at the Crucible Theatre, and music festivals such as Tramlines are a major draw for tourists visiting the city.

Other tourist attractions include the Botanical Gardens, Graves Park, Sheffield Winter Park, Endcliffe Park, Kelham Island Museum, Rivelin Valley Nature Trail, Holly Hagg Community Farm, and the Tropical Butterfly House.

Retail

Sheffield features numerous department stores, high street shops, and designer boutiques.

The city's key shopping districts can be found on The Moor precinct, Orchard Square, the Devonshire Quarter, and Fargate. Historically, Sheffield's main market was Castle Market, which was situated above the city's castle remains, but this has now been demolished.

2013 saw the opening of Sheffield Moor Market which boasts close to 200 stalls of local and organic produce.

Meadowhall shopping towards the north of Sheffield is a significant shopping destination for locals and visitors alike, and is ranked 11th largest in the country, and is home to myriad restaurants and shops as well as a cinema.

Metallurgy

Sheffield's global reputation for steelmaking dates all the way back to 13th century, and the city really came to prominence in the Industrial Revolution when it was often referred to as “Steel City.”

Geographic factors played a crucial role in the development of this industry; waterpower from the numerous streams in the area combined with the geological make-up of Hope Valley and its grit stones for grinding wheels helped play a part in the city's boom.

In the early 1700s silver-plated copper, or Sheffield Plate, was created by Thomas Boulsover.

The early 20th century saw the invention of stainless steel by Harry Brearley, which is credited with helping to bring reasonably priced cutlery to the masses.

Continual research and development in this industry throughout the 1960s until the 1980s led to the invention of contemporary high-strength, low-alloy steels.

To this day, the Advanced Manufacturing Park continues research and development in this area by the city's university and independent research organisations such as the Boeing Company, The Welding Institute, Rolls-Royce plc and McLaren Automotive.

Sheffield is also home to Forgemasters which was formed at the beginning of the 19th century and, to this day, remains the only independent steel works globally.

The firm's international renown for creating large and complicated steel forgings is unsurpassed with projects under its belt including Royal Navy submarines and critical nuclear components.

Forgemasters is also renowned for its ability to pour the largest single ingot in Europe.

If you need help with your IT support and you’re a business in and around Sheffield, then please call our CloudCoCo experts today on 0333 455 9885, we would love to hear from you.