Tony Hughes
Dealmaker - Global Entrepreneur Programme (Gep) @Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade
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WORK HISTORY
Dealmaker - Global Entrepreneur Programme (Gep) @Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade
DIT’s Global Entrepreneur Programme (GEP) helps overseas entrepreneurs and early stage technology businesses or start-ups that want to relocate their business to the UK.The programme has so far helped to- relocate 340 businesses to the UK- create over jobs in the UK economy- raise over £1 billion of private investment for companiesSupport is free and includes- help to develop business plans- assistance with relocating to the UK- providing introductions to investors- guidance on how to grow internationally- mentoring from experienced entrepreneurs- continued help once located in the UK
EDUCATION
The University of Manchester
MA, Media
SKILLS
ABOUT TONY HUGHES
I’m an entrepreneur, consultant and mentor with over 20 years’ experience shaping innovation districts and helping regions, universities, corporates and startups work together to build globally competitive ecosystems. My work focuses on designing, establishing and sustaining places where innovation thrives — aligning local government, SMEs, research institutions, investors and central government to attract talent, investment and high-growth companies.I began in the early dot-com era in Liverpool, helping launch Mersey Television’s digital media division, which evolved into the Digital Media Lab with Liverpool John Moores University, AMD and Channel 4. There, I led the commercial team and contributed to new course development and research programmes, and founded the UK’s first digital content incubator supporting 60+ startups — one of the UK’s earliest innovation-district models.I later helped position East London as a global tech hub as a founding member of the Prime Minister’s Tech City Investment Organisation, and contributed to Tech North to accelerate digital growth across the North. In Cambridge, I supported the creation of Locate Cambridge, attracting international companies and talent into the region to strengthen its status as a world-leading knowledge-economy cluster.Alongside ecosystem-building, I’ve advised organisations including HP, AMD, Microsoft, Ubisoft and Nokia on startup engagement and product innovation. I co-founded Focus Innovation, served on Innovate UK assessment panels, and have supported hundreds of creative and tech scale-ups to access funding, build partnerships and expand internationally.Today, I’m a UK Government Dealmaker for the Global Entrepreneur Programme (GEP), helping globally ambitious founders establish R&D hubs and HQs in the UK. I also co-founded Locate Markets, a strategic-data platform for internationally mobile businesses and policymakers, and serve as CEO of Symphony Associates, advising scale-ups on investment and global growth.Beyond business, I mentor young people entering the creative and tech sectors and co-founded the Hughes Holden Foundation, a US-based charity supporting mental health research and education.Specialties:Innovation District Strategy • Ecosystem Building • Public Policy & Government Engagement • Research & Development • Market Positioning • Venture Building • Raising Investment
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