Event round-up
10 Apr 2025

Event round-Up: Driving tech sector growth and advancing the digital economy in the West Midlands

On 9 April techUK convened regional stakeholders at techUK member PwC’s Birmingham offices for a focused roundtable exploring the findings of the Local Digital Index (LDI) and how they can help accelerate tech sector growth and drive a more thriving, inclusive, sustainable digital economy across the West Midlands.

Bringing together voices from local government, industry, and innovation organisations, the event was an opportunity to discuss not just where the region stands, but where it’s going—and how we can get there, together.

We were delighted to be joined by our expert speakers:

  • Ed Cox, Deputy Chief Executive, West Midlands Combined Authority 
  • Neal Smith, Partner, PwC
  • Paul Connell, Co-Founder, The Data City
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We uncovered a few key themes during the conversation:

Place-based strengths and unique assets

  • The West Midlands (WM) is the UK’s second-largest urban area and geographically central, making it a natural hub for investment, transport, and innovation.
  • It’s home to a young, diverse population and fast-growing cities like Birmingham, which is projected to grow by the size of Leicester in the next 15 years.
  • Regional innovation is thriving: the West Midlands is among the top 3 most innovative EU regions, yet more needs to be done to communicate and capitalise on this.

Digital infrastructure and innovation capacity

  • The Local Digital Index highlights key strengths, including world-class digital infrastructure, leading universities in AI, cyber, and robotics, and a £15bn tech sector that could generate a further growth for the overall GVA as well as unlock further co-investment.
  • Initiatives like the AI Growth Zone and Energy Innovation Zone reflect local ambition and sector specialisms.

Collaboration and systems thinking

  • The West Midlands Combined Authority is pioneering a new model of collaboration, bridging central and local government, academia, and businesses together.
  • The creation of a Digital Skills Consortium and initiatives like STEAMhouse exemplify place-based collaboration, supporting scale-up and ecosystem connection.
  • The region’s trailblazer devolution deal offers a platform for continued negotiation with DSIT, Innovate UK, and other partners.

Challenges identified

  • Low levels of private and public sector investment, with West Midlands among the struggling to access UKRI funding around tech.
  • Skills shortages, with 35% of employers struggling to find the right talent.
  • Rising economic inactivity—particularly among 16-24-year-olds—highlights the need for inclusive digital skills strategies.
  • The region has capacity but needs greater access to funding, particularly for startups and early-stage businesses.

Data-driven strategy

  • Tools like techUK’s Local Digital Index built with The Data City and their own Data Explorer  enable local leaders to visualise business data, innovation activity, and talent trends across the region.
  • Data insights are helping shape questions around workforce planning, predictive analytics, and industrial strategy alignment.

Perspectives from the roundtable

  • There is a need to be strategic about collaboration, and the importance of in person collaboration focusing on where human connection drives innovation and value while also having the merits of a flexible future of work
  • Conversations highlighted the need to mentor founders beyond bootcamps and initial phases of set up —particularly around commercialisation and customer validation.
  • The region should focus on mapping founder journeys, aligning support with business stages and market needs and the process toward scaling up
  • Making digital infrastructure an important part of growing the economy, what is enables and developing that narrative, rather than improve infrastructure as an end goal alone
  • Collaboration must become continuous and consistent, not episodic.

Next steps and calls to action

  • Shape the West Midlands growth plan – With the Combined Authority launching a Green Paper in late April, now is the time for stakeholders to contribute their insights and ensure the digital economy is at the heart of the plan.
  • Champion inclusive digital skills – Build a pipeline that connects education, training, and employment—especially for young people and underrepresented groups.
  • Turn strengths into strategy – Leverage data from the LDI and institutions like techUK and Data City to drive investment decisions and policy development.
  • Drive investment into tech startups – Work collectively to increase startup success rates through funding access, founder mentoring, and a stronger emphasis on commercialisation.
  • Continue the conversation – Collaboration doesn't end here. Reach out to partners, contribute to public consultations, and take an active role in shaping the region’s future.

Thank you to everyone who joined us!

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Resources:

Ileana Lupsa

Ileana Lupsa

Programme Manager, Local Public Services and Nations and Regions, techUK

Ileana Lupsa is the Programme Manager for Local Public Services and Nations and Regions, at techUK.

Ileana studied electronics, telecommunications and IT as an undergraduate, followed by an MSc in engineering and project management at Coventry University.

She refined her programme management expertise through her most recent roles working in the automotive industry.

Ileana is passionate about sustainability and creating a positive impact globally through innovation.

Email:
[email protected]
Twitter:
@IleanaLupsa
Website:
www.techUK.org
LinkedIn:
www.linkedin.com/in/ileana-lupsa

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Matt Robinson

Matt Robinson

Head of Nations and Regions, techUK

Matt is techUK’s Head of Nations and Regions.

Matt is leading techUK’s work with members and stakeholders across the UK to increase the Local Digital Capital across the UK’s nation and regions, build communities and to ensure that digital technology plays a key part the post-COVID-19 levelling-up recovery.

Prior to joining techUK, Matt worked for several national education charities and membership bodies to develop their regional partnerships with schools, academy trusts, local authorities, and other stakeholders. He’s also worked with local authority leaders and other stakeholders to engage communities, work with elected members and improve public services.

He holds a BA in Politics from the University of York and an MA in International Relations from the University of Leeds. Away from work he’s a keen football fan and golfer.

If you’d like to find out more about our work in the nations and regions please get in touch with Matt:

Email:
[email protected]
Website:
techuk.org,,techuk.org,

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Nations and Regions Programme activities

techUK champions the tech sector throughout the UK. We work with local authorities, devolved government, and local and national policy makers to advocate for the tech sector in strengthening economic growth and resilience across the nations and regions. Visit the programme page here

 

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Meet the team 

Matt Robinson

Matt Robinson

Head of Nations and Regions, techUK

Ileana Lupsa

Ileana Lupsa

Programme Manager, Local Public Services and Nations and Regions, techUK

Stephanie Barr

Programme Manager, SME Engagement and Nations & Regions, techUK

Tracy Modha

Tracy Modha

Programme Marketing Assistant for Public Sector Markets, techUK

 

 

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