The Next Level – How West Midlands Tech Drives Business Growth

From the spectacular audio-visual design of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies to the sensor-driven data providing real-time intelligence on environmental conditions, the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games utilised state-of-the-art, world-leading technologies to showcase the West Midlands on the global stage. Certainly appropriate, given the region is the UK’s fastest growing technology sector and a leader in emerging technologies.

Amidst the buzz of the Commonwealth Games, West Midlands Growth Company held the Creative, Digital & Technology Sector Showcase Day, highlighting the strengths of a regional tech sector that certainly has a spring in its step. From immersive technology, gaming and cyber security to future mobility and digital enterprise technologies – as well as the region’s status as the UK’s only 5G multi-city testbed – the sector is flourishing. International delegates including business owners, entrepreneurs and major investors were given an immersive, first-hand experience of the region’s cutting-edge cluster, benefitting from exclusive plenary sessions with tech experts at Bruntwood ’s excellent Innovation Birmingham campus, before a visit to the thriving Creative Quarter.

How could being based in the West Midlands drive your business growth to the next level?

An attractive destination for investment

Following an opening address by Councillor Jayne Francis , Cabinet Member for Digital, Culture, Heritage and Tourism at Birmingham City Council , delegates took a deep dive into the fabric of the West Midlands tech sector, exploring why the cluster is so highly regarded. Mike Lewis , Sector Lead for Creative, Digital & Tech at West Midlands Growth Company , showcased regional strengths in Gaming, Immersive Technologies, Professional Services, MedTech and 5G innovation, as well as the West Midlands Esports Alliance; a 10-year partnership with the Global Esports Federation announced back in June. That wasn’t it though, with news hot off the press that the BBC?would be moving into a new, purpose-built hub in Digbeth, signaling the broadcasters’ commitment to the region. This just highlights the growing desirability of the West Midlands creative and digital sector as it continues to attract companies and organisations from ambitious start-ups and growing SMEs to major corporates.

An unrivalled pool of specialist tech skills

Sourcing and retaining top talent is a key issue for companies worldwide, especially in the case of tech specialists who can deploy their skills across multiple sectors. The West Midlands diverse pool of highly-qualified tech professionals – currently at 65,000 and set to double by 2025 – is just one reason why the West Midlands is an attractive destination for tech companies.

A panel of tech experts discussed the challenges of sourcing and retaining top talent, with Yiannis Maos MBE , CEO and Founder of TechWM , highlighting the depth of diversity within the West Midlands talent pool and Stacy O'Connor , Digital Creative Industry Lead for the Coventry & Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP) , outlining how key tech skills, particularly in games development, can be transferable and play an important role in cross-sector collaboration. This was reinforced by Hilary Smyth-Allen , Executive Lead at SuperTech WM , the UK’s first Professional Services supercluster; in that the West Midlands, with more software developers and computer science graduates than any city-region outside of London, has attracted global names such as Goldman Sachs in locating their Digital Engineering Division in the region.

Locating your business where there’s a continuous pipeline of new talent is also an important factor in the success of tech companies. The West Midlands has eight world-leading universities producing over 57,000 graduates every year and has 87,000 students studying Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths (STEM) and Computing subjects, enabling an invaluable flow of talent into the region’s tech sector. However, it’s not solely the role of the Universities to develop this talent. Lesley Holt , Director for Acceleration and Adoption at WM5G , the UK’s first multi-city 5G testbed, detailed how the organisation plays its role in developing skills across the region and the benefits of this for West Midlands-based companies. Professor Prof Prashant Pillai MBE , Associate Dean for Research and Knowledge Exchange and Director at Cyber Quarter - Midlands Centre for Cyber Security , also provided a fascinating insight into the role the region’s cyber ecosystem is playing in developing the next generation of cybersecurity specialists and why competition for these skills is so fierce.

A world-class platform to accelerate business growth

With over 20 accelerators, catapults, incubators and peer-to-peer networks collaboratively backed by high-profile industry, academic and public sector organisations, the West Midlands tech ecosystem offers the support inbound companies need to integrate and quickly accelerate business growth. During the second panel discussion, Chris Woods , Founder and Chief Executive Officer at CyberQ Group , told delegates about the strength of the West Midlands tech community and how it’s peer-to-peer networks have helped CyberQ develop invaluable business relationships. However, it is not just within the UK market that these relationships prove beneficial. Damon Walford , Chief Commercial Officer at CrowdProperty , spoke about how the West Midlands tech ecosystem has played an integral role in the company’s successful growth and expansion into international markets, therefore providing an excellent location for international companies seeking to enter the UK and further afield.

With regional infrastructure such as the UK’s first multi-city 5G testbed and a large, diverse end-client base across Advanced Manufacturing, Professional Services, Engineering and Utilities, there’s real opportunities for tech companies to come to the West Midlands to test and trial exciting new products and applications. Taran Singh , Director at Taran3D , emphasised how the region’s 5G infrastructure has been integral in growing his business, providing enhanced capability to transform his 3D and immersive tech services to the next level.

Time to take your tech company to the next level

Following the morning session, the delegates were taken on an in-depth tour of Birmingham’s Creative Quarter, hearing from local tech companies about their experience in the West Midlands and why it is a fantastic place to do business, before finishing the day with an evening networking reception at Gowling WLG ’s regional headquarters. The evening – opened with introductory speeches from Councillor Obaida Ahmed , Cabinet Member for Resources and Digital City at City of Wolverhampton Council and Richard Parker , Consultant at Gowling WLG – provided a great opportunity for international delegates and West Midlands-based firms to network and develop key business relationships.

It’s clear that there’s an abundance of opportunity for tech companies across the West Midlands, whether you’re an international business entering the UK market or a UK firm relocating to the region. Take advantage of the UK’s fastest growing technology cluster – and leader in emerging technologies – to propel your company’s growth to the next level. West Midlands Growth Company’s? Mike Lewis and Tomas-Ivor Johnson ?are on-hand to answer any questions you have and offer comprehensive support.