A West Midlands delegation stormed the Houses of Parliament to launch a report that tells the next UK Government to provide more cash for regional tech groups.
The Ecosystems of Innovation report, delivered by the UK Tech Cluster Group, presents four big ideas to ensure that every region of the UK gets a boost.
The West Midlands group was led by Yiannis Maos MBE, CEO of TechWM, part of the UK Tech Cluster Group. Bringing together tech groups from every region and nation of the UK, the UK Tech Cluster Group’s Parliamentary bash called on the central Government to commit to four key areas that will unleash tech’s power across the UK regions.
Hosted by Alex Davies-Jones MP, with a cameo from Saqib Bhatti – Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Tech and the Digital Economy and MP for Meriden, West Midlands – the report focuses on social mobility and growth, fuelled by:
- A world-class tech talent pipeline in every region: ensuring the economy delivers opportunity for all and driving social mobility by unlocking tech talent.
- Driving digital innovation at the basics: making sure every business can understand and benefit from the chances that tech offers.
- A UK Innovation Policy which gives every place a chance by putting digital tech at the heart of regional development plans and rewarding collaboration.
- Mobilising ecosystems to help businesses start and grow: by recognising that ‘place’ matters, tech communities can support the success of devolution.
Founder and TechWM CEO founder and member of the UK Tech Cluster Group, Yiannis Maos, said the report was a joint project, bringing together grassroots leaders from across the UK to spot the critical priorities needed by the Government to make sure that regions can reach their true potential.
“As we enter General Election year, we must focus on central leadership and be bold in our ask. The West Midlands is the home of innovation: we were at the heart of the first industrial revolution and have invention in our DNA. This is now seen through our unique tech giants’ and visionary entrepreneurs’ ecosystem. It’s vital that we do everything that we can to harness the innovation within the region while also calling on the Government to help us use these chances to fuel our rise as a global tech hub,” Maos said
Alex Davies-Jones MP said: “Making sure all people and businesses across the UK can join in and benefit from a growing digital economy is vital to our shared success. This UK Tech Cluster Group report outlines four key ways Whitehall, local leadership, and industry can better work together to help every place reach its potential.”
At the end of 2023, Tech WM – the non-profit group that acts as the voice of the West Midlands tech sector – announced a £ 1 million investment into the region’s ecosystem over the next 12 months.
This includes a new tech acceleration programme to help start-ups become global superstars, an online tech showcase and ecosystem platform to help businesses find their way in the ecosystem, a tech hub based in Birmingham’s technology quarter, and a new Digital and tech Strategy for the region.
