• Swindon & Wiltshire Tech
• Thursday July 11 2024
• Author Name: Peter Davison

South West tech leaders lay out roadmap in wake of General Election

Tech leaders from across the South West have gathered in Bristol just days after the General Election to issue a rallying cry to the new Government.

A hundred leaders were part of this year’s Tech Leaders’ Summit, helping to develop the tech roadmap for the region, including ways to unlock investment, forge a tech talent hub and innovation portal, and agree ways to ensure South West MPs become strong advocates for the tech industry.

Organised by Tech South West, the annual summit builds on the work to develop the new Look South West prospectus, the first prospectus for the South West of England tech sector, launched in London last month.

With new research and insight, it highlights an array of strengths and investment opportunities in critical areas for the UK including net zero tech, AI, cyber, advanced manufacturing and the creative economy.

Delivered with support from Innovate UK Business Growth, Acuity Associates, ISL Talent and Future Space Bristol, the summit gave founders, entrepreneurs, investors, education leaders and others, opportunities to discuss priorities that will feed into a new action plan for the sector.

The new South West of England Tech Advisory Board will be continuing the work, and developing the plan.

Dan Pritchard, founder of Tech South West, said: “The South West tech sector is a powerful force for positive change, and that’s down to the innovators, entrepreneurs, investors and inspiring leaders we have.

“But there are some major challenges; unlocking capital, developing a dynamic and diverse talent pool, and pushing on with innovation in areas from cyber and AI, to climate tech and healthtech.

“The summit was an opportunity to bring together key people, and focus on developing actions to address some of our key challenges and opportunities, as we continue to develop a unified voice and strive to help the tech sector reach its full potential.”

Held at Engineers’ House in Clifton, Bristol the summit featured discussion groups, workshops, panels and live voting, allowing delegates to develop and agree priorities and potential future collaborative projects.

Delegates worked on action planning focusing on investment, talent, net zero, future economy and a response to the new Government, ahead of a live vote to understand priorities.

Actions around talent included improved work experience programmes, and raising understanding of the business expertise and skills needed with education providers. There was also agreement on building the case for more early stage funding, through clarity on return on investment and risk.

Tara Gilliam, regional manager for the South West at Innovate UK Business Growth, described the summit as “a great opportunity to dig deeper into the challenges and experiences of innovators in our region.”

South West tech startups more likely to thrive than those in London

Alan Furley, founder of Bristol recruitment firm ISL Talent, said: “We’re excited to support the Tech South West summit once again, and see some of the key people from the region come together to move us all forward.”

Summit delegates discussed the findings of the Look South West prospectus, which reveals the extent of the region’s investment potential and the strength of its green and blue economy, including agritech, environmental science and marine.

The prospectus also lays out recommendations to policymakers including pension reform to boost investment and increasing British Business Bank funding in the region by 20 per cent.

Professor Matt Freeman, centre director at Future Space Bristol, assisted with the development of the prospectus and ran two key innovation sessions at the summit.

He said: “As an innovation centre for high-tech businesses based at the University of the West of England, we’re on a mission to innovate how we support innovation, working up all kinds of brand-new university-partnered R&D and business support mechanisms alongside the university.

“Better facilitating university-business collaboration is critical to all kinds of innovation, but what does it take to lead the way in this area?”

According to the prospectus, net zero technology including marine, agritech, biotech, clean energy and environmental science in the region generates £24.1bn turnover, whilst across the sector, South West startups are 17 per cent more likely to be operating after five years than those based in London.

Attracting investment to the South West is another key focus of Tech South West, which runs the Angel Investment Programme to stimulate angel investment activity within the region.

Ben Mekie, founder and CEO of financial recruitment firm Acuity Associates, said: “It’s a privilege to witness so many exciting companies and startups in development in the region. We are here on hand to advise and help provide that all important financial infrastructure to ensure bright and profitable futures.”