We’re the voice of the region’s tech ecosystem.

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global impressions about the region’s tech sector

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tech business supported by connecting them to relevant parts of the ecosystem

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Regional & International tech/ trade delegates attended Birmingham Tech Week

Who We Are

Tech West Mids (TechWM) is the independent catalyst at the heart of the West Midlands’ tech ecosystem.

As a trusted convenor, we unite public and private stakeholders to unlock digital growth, boost skills, and scale innovation.

We don’t just promote the region — we help build it. Through insight, influence, and action, TechWM powers the transformation of the West Midlands into a globally recognised tech hub.

Our work has been commended by tech leaders and the UK government - specifically our role in making the West Midlands the fastest-growing tech sector in the UK - now worth over £15b (from 2021 - 2022 the sector grew by £3.8b)

A community of

tech titans.

Our Mission

Our Mission

A Global Tech Superpower With Soul

Since 2019, TechWM has been on a mission to ensure the West Midlands tech sector is one we can all be proud of. A vibrant, inspiring, engaging and entrepreneurial ecosystem that’s home to diverse thinkers, disruptors and forward-thinking innovators.

When we were crowned the UK’s fastest growing tech sector in 2021, we knew our mission was finally being realised but we knew we still had work to do, and that’s why our drive and passion today remains as strong as when we were formed.

Our mission today remains the same, to make the region a global tech superpower with a social mission at its core; a place we are all proud of.

Creating a new socially responsible world driven by technology

We have a vision where our region is at the centre of a new digital revolution. Where technology benefits everyone, solves some of societies' biggest challenges and creates digital empowerment. A region where technology collides with creativity to create world leading technological innovation and digital transformation.

Our Vision

Our Vision

At TechWM, our vision is a dynamic tapestry woven with innovation, inclusion, and impact.

We aspire to curate a tech landscape that transcends boundaries, nurturing unparalleled diversity in talent where each individual finds their place.

Our focus extends beyond local boundaries, empowering entrepreneurs to ascend as global trailblazers through an ecosystem rich in support and opportunity.

Bridging the digital divide is our commitment, equipping our communities with the tools and expertise vital to navigate a swiftly evolving digital era.

Moreover, we aim to empower individuals, arming them not just with technology but with knowledge - a potent amalgamation to confront and conquer society's most pressing challenges.

Our Values:

Collaborate

Our Projects.

We run these projects to help you to realize you full potential as a part of global tech hub

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Tech Connect Platform

A smart platform to help navigate the ecosystem effectively

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Tech Connect Support

An initiative to help businesses scale and go global

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Tech Showcase

A marketing vehicle (website, social, PR) to promote tech businesses and the ecosystem

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Special Interest Groups

Events and working groups to educate businesses and set plans for the region in areas such as AI, Cyber, Diversity…

Birmingham Tech Week

Be a part of the UK’s largest regional tech festival designed to promote, educate, and inspire

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WM Tech & Digital Strategy

A strategy to grow the digital economy and establish the region as a global tech hub

Hear from the Industry Leaders...

Our work has been commended by tech leaders and the UK government.

TechWM has played an important part in the growth of the West Midlands tech sector. It has successfully brought like-minded people together to work with partners to further develop the sector and the region. We look forward to continuing our work together through 2023 and beyond.

Julian David | Chief Executive Officer, techUK

The region’s digital sector has been named the fastest growing in the UK, and in 2021, tech companies raised an impressive £500 million in venture capital. I would like to thank TechWM for their ongoing work to support individuals and businesses achieve their ambitions and help the sector to flourish.

Chris Philp MP | Former Minister for Tech and the Digital Economy

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Meet the Team.

Meet the dynamic minds driving innovation at TechWM.

Yiannis Maos MBE

Founder & Chief Strategy Officer

Yiannis is the Founder of TechWM and has over 18 years experience in helping technology and digital businesses scale.

Andy Hague

CEO

Andy Hague, TechWM's newly appointed CEO is a seasoned tech entrepreneur and senior executive with over 20 years of experience in leading high-performing teams and driving business growth.

Katharine Fuller

COO

Katharine is the COO at TechWM. She has been an EU funding specialist, project manager & developer on a variety of strategic and innovative projects across fields including smart cities, education development and socio-economic growth.

Vickie Pargetter-Garner

Director - Digital Skills & Commercial Impact

Victoria is the Director of Digital Skills & Commercial Impact, who plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of digital talent in the West Midlands, bringing extensive experience from her decade-long career at the University of Birmingham.

Naomi Nash

Head of Community & Collaboration

Naomi is the Head of Community & Collaboration at TechWM & has been supporting the Midlands tech startup community for 10 years.

Anushka Malhotra

Head of Marketing

Anushka is a tech advocate and a new-age marketer, amplifying the West Midlands Tech Sector through innovative story-telling and collaboration.

Our News.

West Midlands Partners with South Korea’s Ulsan to Accelerate Innovation and Support Start-Ups

In a strategic move to drive innovation and support start-ups, the West Midlands has signed collaboration agreements with Ulsan Creative Economy & Innovation Center (UCCEI) and Ulsan Technopark in South Korea. These partnerships, formalised during Birmingham Tech Week, are part of the UK-Republic of Korea Innovation Twins and DIATOMIC programs, led by Connected Places Catapult in partnership with Birmingham City Council and the West Midlands Combined Authority.

The initiatives, funded by the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology and Innovate UK, aim to leverage the synergies between the West Midlands and Ulsan, especially in areas such as clean energy, technology development, and industrial growth. Research from the Innovation Twins Program identified Birmingham and Ulsan as ideal partners due to their shared industrial strengths and complementary economic goals.

Key Objectives of the New Partnerships

The memorandums of understanding (MoUs) outline various strategic goals, including:

Creating a Global Network: Tech West Midlands and UCCEI will work to establish an international network of tech clusters, promoting knowledge exchange, innovation, and best practices across borders.

Supporting Start-Up Ecosystems: Both regions aim to support start-ups by facilitating talent exchange, fostering technological development, and enhancing global competitiveness for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Advancing Clean Energy and Sustainability: The partnership with Ulsan Technopark focuses on joint efforts in clean energy and sustainable tech development, supporting each region’s commitment to carbon neutrality.

Regional Leaders Comment on the Collaboration

Alex Weedon, Executive Director of SME Engagement at Connected Places Catapult, emphasised the importance of international cooperation, stating,

“Innovation doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Only by working together...can we effectively support our start-up communities and nurture the technologies of the future.”

Yiannis Maos MBE, CEO and Founder of Tech West Midlands, sees the MoUs as key to empowering SMEs.

“This collaboration will provide tools and opportunities for SMEs in Birmingham and Ulsan to innovate and expand globally,”

Representatives from Ulsan also highlighted the potential for growth. Lee Jinkyung, Global Strategy Team Lead at UCCEI, remarked,

“We believe this partnership will allow Ulsan start-ups to directly connect with Birmingham’s innovation ecosystem, creating synergy that can foster global market expansion.”

This partnership marks a significant milestone for the West Midlands as it builds stronger global connections, fostering a collaborative environment where both Birmingham and Ulsan can exchange expertise and further their innovation capabilities.

By Anushka Malhotra

29 Oct

Transforming the West Midlands Digital Landscape: The Digital Skills Consortium

The Digital Skills Consortium is a bold initiative addressing the urgent need for a skilled tech workforce in the West Midlands. With digital technology now a cornerstone of virtually every industry, the Consortium aims to bridge the region’s growing digital skills gap, positioning local businesses—particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs)—to thrive in a rapidly evolving economy. This effort will also benefit larger organisations, as the region looks to become a national leader in digital talent development and innovation.

Lord Kulveer Ranger, Chair of Digital Skills on the West Midlands Tech & Digital Advisory Board, will collaborate with the Consortium to ensure its goals align with the broader tech strategy for the region. A working group of key members will meet regularly to discuss progress and make recommendations that will be fed back to the WMCA, academic institutions, and training providers.

A major objective of the Consortium is to develop a robust pipeline of digital talent. By collaborating with colleges, universities, and specialised training providers, the WMDSC will design programmes aimed at training individuals in high-demand digital skills, such as coding, data analytics, cybersecurity, and AI. Notably, the Consortium is working with IBM to offer a range of free digital programmes such as IBM SkillsBuild and other training opportunities, including a newly developed ‘AI for All’ workshop. This initiative will help ensure the West Midlands is recognised as a hub for digital talent, supporting SMEs and larger businesses alike in meeting their tech workforce needs.

Photo Credit: Edwin Ladd Media

The Consortium also aims to provide SMEs with strategic guidance on how to attract, retain, and develop tech talent. By offering practical pathways and strategies, local businesses will have the support they need to remain competitive in the global digital economy.

Beyond workforce development, the Digital Skills Consortium will encourage collaboration across sectors. By facilitating the sharing of expertise and resources between businesses, educational institutions, and government entities, the Consortium will create an open environment of knowledge exchange. This collaborative spirit will enable companies to harness digital technologies more effectively, ensuring they remain competitive both locally and globally.

Key partners engaged with this initiative include Birmingham Digital Futures, WMGC, TechUK, and WM5G, among others. Additionally, the Consortium will draw on relationships with local colleges and universities, such as the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Institute of Technology, to ensure the educational sector plays a vital role in shaping the region’s digital landscape.

Inclusivity is at the heart of the Digital Skills Consortium’s mission. The Consortium is committed to making digital education accessible to all, with a particular focus on engaging underrepresented communities in the West Midlands. Ensuring individuals from all backgrounds have the opportunity to participate in and benefit from the region’s burgeoning digital economy is central to the Consortium's vision.

Speaking at the launch, Richard Parker, the Mayor of the West Midlands, expressed the importance of this new initiative:

“Our region’s growing digital sector is key to creating new job opportunities, especially for young people. WMCA is investing in training for vital skills like cyber, AI, coding, and green tech to help bridge the digital skills gap and connect people to the jobs of the future.
“Supporting young people into these careers is essential to tackling youth unemployment, and I’m committed to working with the tech sector to meet their needs. I also encourage businesses to step up by offering work experience, training, and apprenticeships to help young people get started.”

Victoria Pargetter-Garner, Director of Digital Skills & Commercial Impact at TechWM, who will be leading the Consortium, also commented:

“The launch of the Digital Skills Consortium is a pivotal moment for the West Midlands. This initiative not only positions our region at the cutting edge of technological advancement but also reinforces our commitment to creating a future-ready workforce. By bringing together key players from business, education, and government, we’re laying the foundation for sustained growth and innovation.
What’s truly exciting is the inclusivity at the core of this initiative. We are making sure that digital skills development is accessible to all, giving people from every community the chance to engage with the opportunities that a digital economy offers. Whether it's coding, cybersecurity, data analytics, or AI, this Consortium is setting the stage for a new wave of talent that will power the next chapter of our region's economic story.”

As the digital economy continues to expand, the Digital Skills Consortium will play a pivotal role in positioning the West Midlands as a leader in innovation, skills development, and business success.

By Molly Matthews

22 Oct