As the dust begins to settle on the gruelling election period, and the newly elected Parliament descends on Westminster, focus is fast turning to future plans and proposed Government spending.

The new Government has earmarked significant infrastructure funds for areas that turned Conservative – to be more exact, tens of billions of pounds from a £100bn infrastructure fund — spread over a five-year parliament — for the Midlands and North.

This will include coverage for cost overruns for the HS2 project – a crucial piece of the puzzle that will link North and Midlands to London – and consequently create an abundance of commercial and growth opportunities for regions beyond the capital.

The implications of an improved transport network, both for the Northern tech scene and the UK more broadly, cannot be underestimated.

Prioritising a connected Britain with accessibility to the north of England is of vital importance to driving forward the UK’s world-renowned technology industry. It is currently estimated that the new line would reduce the journey between Manchester and London from two hours and seven minutes, down to one hour and seven minutes.

So why does cutting down rail travel times matter to the UK in the long run?