West Midlands Tech Sector booms as Birmingham Tech Week celebrates its 5th successful year

By Anushka Malhotra

2 minutes

Partnership

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Quick Read: TechWM's Birmingham Tech Week 2023 ended on a high, witnessing a record turnout of over 7,500 attendees across 39 vibrant events at 24 distinct locations. TechWM announced a groundbreaking merger with TechMids. This merger will support the developer and engineering community, bringing more exciting changes to our region's tech scene.

TechWM (Tech West Mids) marked a successful year during the fifth annual Birmingham Tech Week, boasting a record sign-up of 39 events across 24 distinct locations. The not-for-profit organization celebrated this milestone by unveiling a groundbreaking merger with Tech Mids, furthering its dedication to developing the region's burgeoning tech landscape.

Since its launch in 2019 by TechWM (formerly Birmingham Tech), this event has been a cornerstone in acknowledging the unwavering commitment across various sectors, from software development and AI to manufacturing and engineering. Spearheaded by Yiannis Maos MBE, Birmingham Tech Week has evolved into an essential fixture in the yearly events calendar.

This vibrant week welcomed leaders, tech enthusiasts, and investors from across the nation, drawing over 7,500 participants. Esteemed figures like Mayor Andy Street, HSBC UK's Ian Stuart, and Founders Forum's CEO Carolyn Dawson graced the stage, utilizing the platform to relaunch Tech Nation.Held at illustrious venues such as The Bond, STEAMhouse, and HSBC HQ, the event featured discussions on pivotal topics like the digital skills gap, scaling-up, and digital transformation, led by various expert panels and speakers.

Photo Courtesy: Edwin Ladd

Yiannis Maos, CEO of TechWM, expressed his enthusiasm about the event's success, stating:

“Birmingham Tech Week is one of the standout moments of the year for the UK tech scene and we’re delighted to have delivered another fantastic week of events. For a region with so much to offer, it’s a pleasure for myself and the TechWM team to be able to shout about it on a stage that only continues to grow year-on-year.

“We’re also thrilled to have our partners and sponsors choose to share some of their most exciting news during Tech Week. Whether that’s the relaunch of Tech Nation, game-changing regional investment or our own merger with TechMids, these announcements speak to the incredible platform for tech that our region has become.”

The week culminated in the pivotal merger announcement between TechWM and TechMids, the organisation that oversees the developer and engineering community, to ensure this part of the tech sector receives more support and investment. As part of this collaboration, James Seconde will assume a non-executive director role at TechWM.

Alistair Hey, Co-founder of TechMids, added:

“After several years collaborating closely TechWM we are delighted to become part of the organisation. This merger will allow TechMids to continue to serve the development and engineering community whilst growing our reach and collaboration with our region's fantastic technology businesses.

“We look forward to continuing to work towards our mission of making the midlands the best place to work in technology in the world.”

For all information on Birmingham Tech Week 2024, visit https://birminghamtechweek.com/.

What's new

West Midlands Digital Skills Consortium Launch Survey to Tackle Digital Skills Gap

TechWM and the West Midlands Digital Skills Consortium (WMDSC) have joined forces to launch a crucial survey aimed at addressing the digital skills shortage in the West Midlands. The results will shape targeted initiatives to boost growth and innovation in the region.

The survey seeks input from businesses of all sizes and sectors to pinpoint specific digital skills challenges. This information will enable the WMDSC – in partnership with founding partners: West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), IBM UK Ltd., Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, AND Digital, In4.0 Group, SF Technology, and Skills For West Midlands & Warwickshire – to design effective programs and ensure the region's competitiveness in the digital economy.

Vickie Pargetter-Garner, Director of Digital Skills & Commercial Impact at TechWM, says:

"Access to digital talent is a global challenge, but it is particularly acute for businesses in the West Midlands. We have world-leading Universities, excellent FE Colleges, and a plethora of independent education providers, all working to build a digital skills base in the region. Yet businesses are often struggling to find the right talent, or know how to upskill their existing workforce, to meet the demands of modern business and benefit from adoption of rapid technological advancements.

The world of business is volatile, and the past 12 months have been particularly challenging for many of the companies I’ve spoken to, with political and economic uncertainty, alongside increasing cost pressures, changing business outlook. We know that unlocking the right digital talent can create significant business efficiencies and cost savings, so what are the barriers? This survey is essential to understanding these challenges and ensuring effective use of public funding around the digital skills agenda, both from a talent pipeline and digital-upskilling perspective."

Businesses are encouraged to participate and help shape the region's digital future. As a thank you, the WMDSC is offering incentives, including a £250 voucher for a local restaurant, exclusive event invites, free consultancy, and early access to survey findings.

The survey is open to all West Midlands businesses and takes only 5 minutes to complete. Responses are confidential and anonymous.

Participate today:

https://form.typeform.com/to/vXrne1yZ

Find out more about the West Midlands Digital Skills Consortium at:

https://www.techwm.com/wmdsc

By Anushka Malhotra

11 Feb