Scale-ups
Scale-ups are among the UK's most important drivers of economic growth, productivity and innovation. These high-growth organisations turn ambitious ideas into successful companies, creating jobs, attracting investment and strengthening the UK's global competitiveness.
The UK is Europe's leading scale-up ecosystem, but continued success depends on helping organisations not just start, but scale and stay in the UK.
We work with industry, government and regulators to remove barriers to growth and support high-growth organisations through their scaling journey.
Scale-ups are engines of economic growth and innovation.
High-growth technology organisations make an outsized contribution to productivity, investment, exports and job creation, playing a critical role in commercialising innovation and strengthening the UK's technology ecosystem.
To scale successfully, scale-ups need access to capital, talent, supportive regulation, procurement opportunities and international markets. The UK has the foundations of a world-leading scale-up ecosystem, but continued success depends on ensuring ambitious technology organisations can access these conditions and choose to scale and stay in the UK.
We work with industry, policymakers and regulators - including through our Scale-Up Council - to help create these conditions and support organisations scaling successfully from the UK.
Global context
For scale-ups, access to capital, talent and international markets increasingly shapes where high-growth organisations choose to invest and expand. Competition to attract and retain innovative scale-ups is intensifying, particularly in sectors driven by emerging technologies and advanced research. The economies that create the right conditions for ambitious organisations to scale will be best placed to attract investment, accelerate innovation and strengthen long-term competitiveness.
UK Strategic Impact
The UK has established itself as Europe's scale-up capital and is home to one of the world's strongest technology ecosystems. Supporting scale-ups helps drive productivity, attract investment, increase exports and create highly skilled employment across the country. Creating an environment where ambitious technology organisations can access capital, develop talent, win customers and scale successfully from the UK will be critical to future economic growth and international competitiveness.
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Our Subject Matter Experts
Tom McGee
Associate Director - Digital Economy
Tom McGee is Associate Director for Digital Economy, with a particular focus on techUK’s Digital Economy workstream and Nations & Regions programme. Tom joined techUK in 2026 from the OECD’s Science, Technology & Innovation Directorate, where he specialised in semiconductors policy, providing analysis and recommendations on industrial policy and supply chain resilience to the OECD’s member countries and partner economies. Tom also has considerable experience in the UK Civil Service, as a Senior Policy Advisor (at the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy and Cabinet Office) and Ministerial Private Secretary (Department for Education). Tom holds a Master’s in Public Policy from Harvard University, where his studies were generously funded by the Knox Memorial Fellowship. His Master’s thesis – on AI chips and industrial policy – was awarded the Harvard Kennedy School’s top prize for outstanding policy analysis. Tom also holds a BA from the University of Cambridge.
Edward Emerson
Head - Digital Economy
Edward leads the Digital Economy programme at techUK, which includes scale-up and entrepreneurship policy, industrial policy, innovation and tech adoption. He also leads techUK's policy development process around major fiscal events such as the Autumn Budget, working closely with teams across the organisation. Prior to joining techUK in 2024, he worked as a DCMS civil servant covering parliamentary process, and spent a time as a public affairs consultant.
Ed Bevan
Head of SME Engagement
Ed is Head of SME Engagement and is responsible for shaping techUK’s proposition to our SMEs across the country, ensuring our policy work, market access activity and services benefit the SME community. Prior to working at techUK, Ed worked at the Department for International Trade, engaging with a variety of businesses, particularly SMEs, to understand the benefits of Free Trade Agreements and act as case studies in press and social media. Ed has also worked in policy and public affairs within the voluntary sector, namely the Alzheimer’s Society and the Men’s Health Forum. Ed holds a MA in International Relations from Leiden University, and in his spare time enjoys spending time with his son, travelling, and visiting historical sites.
