“There’s never been a better time to be working in the UK tech digital sector.” Those are the words of Tech Nation chair Eileen Burbidge – and it’s hard to disagree with them, given her organisation’s recent report that this sector has been producing tech “unicorns” at the rate of once a month.

However, in Somerset, one area that isn’t quite sharing in the proceeds of the UK’s flourishing tech industry, or that of the local region, is the town of Taunton. This concern has led to the formation of a new networking hub aimed at helping to grow the local sector and attract young recruits.

The conception of Taunton’s new digital hub

The new hub, Digital Taunton, was established by Somerset-based Idea Bureau, a developer of apps for not-for-profit organisations. Idea Bureau co-founder Shane Griffiths, who set up Digital Taunton, explained to BBC News: “It felt like Taunton was very much falling behind the regional digital sector and entrepreneurship with young people.

“There was this frustration that someone needed to start something,” Mr Griffiths added of the hub, which roughly 50 firms have joined since its formation.

“We want to grow a community of digital professionals and entrepreneurs who can work with the wider business community.”

He revealed that Digital Taunton was seeking to run workshops allowing companies to impart their tech requirements and issues to an audience of tech firms capable of providing solutions.

Claims Consortium and UK Hydrographic Office are two organisations which have joined the hub.