The largest regional technology festival in the UK returns online from 12 – 16 October with a mix of free talks and sessions on trending topics in tech.
Attracting some of the biggest industry names from the West Midlands and UK more widely, this year’s programme is run in association with the West Midlands Growth Company (WMGC) – the region’s official agency for attracting inward investment – Tech Nation and the Department for International Trade (DIT). It builds on the success of 2019’s inaugural Birmingham Tech Week, which attracted over 5,000 attendees.
Among 2020’s headline events is a special closing keynote session exploring why the West Midlands is a top location for tech success.
Scheduled on Friday 16 October at 11:30am, Why the West Midlands? Opportunities, Talent, Funding and Community will offer exclusive insight on opportunities for tech innovation in the region, highlighting unique accelerator programmes around 5G connectivity and the UK’s new High-Speed 2 rail line.
Details of how to access funding streams, incubator and scale-up programmes, the local talent pool, and what it’s really like to live and work in the West Midlands’ tech community will also be revealed.
The one-hour session is being hosted by WMGC in partnership with DIT, and will feature a host of local tech experts, including:
- Robert Franks, Managing Director at West Midlands 5G (WM5G)
- Jack Stockport, Senior Consultant in tech recruitment for SF Group
- Ryan Cartwright, Senior Manager, British Business Bank
- Nicola Wright, Tech & Creative Lead for the West Midlands Growth Company
- David Grady, Chief Financial Officer, Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games
- Janice Rae, CEO, TechTalent Academy
- Howard Mitchell, Head of Innovation, HS2
- Yiannis Maos, Founder, Birmingham Tech Week
More speakers are set to join the line-up ahead of the event taking place.
Commenting on the significance of the session, Nicola Wright said:
“Tech in the West Midlands is an exciting space to be part of right now. The local scene is alive with new ideas and innovations from creative and ambitious tech professionals that could significantly transform and disrupt traditional markets across the globe.
“Birmingham Tech Week’s rich programme of events perfectly sums up the vibrant and collaborative spirit of the region’s tech community. It is only fitting that we close such a fantastic festival of celebration by reflecting on the scale and variety of opportunities available here, which we hope will inspire a new wave of tech leaders to join the conversation.”
Click here to sign up to the event and explore the wider programme.