Locate your creative, digital, or technology business in Angus, Scotland
Dundee, Scotland’s fourth-largest city, is emerging as a vibrant epicenter for the creative digital and screen industries, making it a prime location for inward investment in these sectors. Known for its rich history in design and innovation—home to the world-renowned V&A Dundee, a beacon of contemporary creativity—Dundee offers unique opportunities for businesses and investors looking to capitalise on the rapidly growing digital and creative markets.
Innovative Ecosystem
Dundee’s innovative ecosystem is supported by a collaborative network of technology parks, business incubators, and co-working spaces designed explicitly for creative and digital enterprises. This infrastructure not only fosters innovation but also provides valuable support mechanisms for startups and established businesses alike, promoting growth and facilitating access to global markets.
World-Class Talent Pool
The city benefits from a highly skilled workforce, enriched by graduates from Dundee’s leading universities—The University of Dundee and Abertay University. Abertay University, in particular, is recognized globally for its contributions to video game education, making Dundee an attractive city for companies in the gaming industry and related digital screen sectors. This talent pool ensures that businesses in Dundee have access to fresh ideas and cutting-edge skills, driving innovation and keeping companies at the forefront of digital technology.
Strategic Location
Dundee’s strategic location provides significant advantages. With its well-developed transport infrastructure, the city offers excellent connectivity to major UK cities and beyond, facilitating easy access for businesses, employees, and clients. This connectivity, combined with Dundee’s quality of life, vibrant cultural scene, and relative cost-effectiveness compared to other tech hubs, makes it an attractive place for digital tech professionals and their families.
Supportive Business Environment
The local government and various business organizations in Dundee are committed to supporting the growth of the digital and creative sectors. Financial incentives, including grants and investment opportunities, are available for qualifying businesses. Additionally, initiatives aimed at fostering collaboration between academia, industry, and government ensure a thriving environment for digital and screen enterprises.
Leading in Screen Industries
Dundee’s contribution to the screen industries, particularly in gaming, is globally recognized. The city’s legacy includes the creation of the world-famous game "Lemmings" and contributing significantly to the development of "Grand Theft Auto." Today, Dundee continues to be at the cutting edge of digital and screen sector innovations, with a growing number of studios and companies specializing in animation, film, and digital media calling the city home.
A Future-Ready City
Investors and businesses in the creative digital tech and screen sectors will find Dundee not just ready but eagerly anticipating the future. With ongoing investments in 5G technology and smart city initiatives, Dundee is at the forefront of creating a digitally inclusive, innovative, and sustainable urban environment.
Offering a potent combination of talent, innovation, support, and lifestyle, Dundee presents an attractive proposition for businesses looking to invest in the creative digital tech and screen industries. Join this thriving community and be part of shaping the future of digital creativity and entertainment in one of the UK’s most forward-thinking cities.
Dundee has a shared history with Angus with evidence of habitation going back to over 6000 years. Aeons before, a volcanic mountain sat on the site that became the city. It was one of a ring of volcanoes stretching through Fife and on to Edinburgh, where the mountain ultimately became the site of Edinburgh Castle. As a Pictish settlement dating back over 2,000 years Dundee had the name Alec-tum that evolved to become Dùn Dèagh in Gaelic, meaning Fort on the Tay. In 1191 CE, the town became a royal burgh although this was later revoked by the English monarch, Edward I. Scots king, Robert the Bruce reinstated its royal burgh status in 1327. Dundee became a walled city in 1545 during hostilities with England during the time of Henry VIII and a very young Mary Queen of Scots known as the rough wooing because of efforts to declare a marriage between a very young Mary and Henry’s successor, a very young Edward VI. The period saw much destruction of the city. Fast forward to the 1600’s and Dundee was besieged by the Royalist Marquess of Montrose. A few short years later, during the Third English Civil War, it was invaded by General Monck, commander of Oliver Cromwell's forces in Scotland. As history marched on, Dundee saw an early Jacobite (supporters of the Scottish monarchy) uprising as John Graham, 1st Viscount Dundee raised the Stuart flag on the city’s iconic hill, The Law, winning him the nickname Bonnie Dundee.
In the 1700s, the economy was largely an agricultural, cottage industry such as weaving, and trading port community. As across Britain, the Industrial Revolution had a major impact on the city with the growth of mills and a particular focus on jute, a fibre grown in India that was made into very widely used sacking and coarse cloth (such as for military tents). By the end of the 1800s jute was the main employer, giving the city its first of three Js - Jute, Jam and Journalism. The city also had a major whaling fleet and a claim to discovering Dundee Island in the Antarctic by a whaling expedition in 1892.
Dundee’s jam is actually marmalade that, legend has it, was invented by Janet Keiller in 1797. Whilst in reality it may not have been an original, certainly Keiller's marmalade became a world famous brand. Journalism is because of DC Thomson founded in 1905 which remains a major employer and publishes diverse media including household names like The Beano and The Dandy.
Dundee’s maritime and shipbuilding industry saw 2,000 ships constructed between 1871 and 1881, including the famous Antarctic research ship helmed by Captain Scott, the RRS Discovery. The ship is now berthed at Discovery Point on the city’s Waterfront. Whaling ceased in 1912 and shipbuilding in 1981.
The Tay estuary was the location for a first Tay Rail Bridge opened in 1879 and one of the first undersea telegraph cables. The bridge had to be replaced following the tragedy of the Tay Bridge disaster when it fell down during a storm in 1879.