Tech Telford Digital Forum Newsletter

SIGN UP OR MISS OUT: Business supporting events

Creating a Virtual World- Immersive Technologies for Enterprise

There's still time to join us for the first SOLVD Tech Briefing today with Tim Luft (Virtual Reality Simulation Systems). Mark Sage (Executive Director, The AREA), Dr Adam Worrallo (University of Wolverhampton)

As the COVID 19 crisis has unfolded, products and services have been digitising at a rapid pace. Is it time for your business to identify new sources of growth and to seriously consider digital transformation?

Our key speakers will be addressing how VR, AR and Mixed Reality (XR) can provide meaningful business benefits to your company, with real-life case studies from companies who have adopted this technology.

Understand how to adopt this technology and understand more about the return on investment (RoI) and identifying solutions to your challenges around immersive technologies

Today 10-11am

Find out more and register here: SOLVD Tech Briefing: - Immersive technologies for enterprise Tickets, Tue 19 Jan 2021 at 10:00 | Eventbrite

Free Digital Webinars from DIT West Midlands: This workshop looks at the wide range of considerations that need to be explored and addressed to ensure your marketing strategy is tailored to the global markets you are targeting. Includes: Digital Content | Utilising Data | International Digital Marketing 26 January & 11 February 2021 - 09:30-13:00 Find out more and register here: Digital Content Management: SEO, Inbound Marketing & Content Strategy

Women in Cloud Digital Summit 2021: Inspire. Connect. Transform. The 2021 WIC Digital Summit celebrates the achievements of women founders and leaders in technology through the innovation of “collective power.” January 28th -30th Find out more and register here: Women in Cloud Digital Summit 2021 by Women in Cloud (heysummit.com)

Digital Manufacturing Trade Mission at Virtual UK Tech Week, Turkey Join the Department for International Trade (DIT) and Midlands Engine with a virtual exhibition stand to have the opportunity to meet with potential buyers in Turkey and Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA) region. 16th- 18th February Find out more and register here: Digital Manufacturing Trade Mission at UK Tech Week, Turkey (eventscloud.com)

DIGITAL & TECH IN FOCUS: The best of local business

Golden Bear invests in digital thanks to grant help

Telford toy manufacturer Golden Bear has invested about £150,000 in new facilities and personnel to enhance its digital offer after receiving nearly £70,000 from a grant programme supported by the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership.

Golden Bear Products, which has been transforming favourite children’s TV characters into toys for over 40 years, has been awarded £67,845 from the Marches Building Investment Grant (MBIG) for the new facilities at its head office in Hortonwood.

The company has used the funding to create a new photographic studio and take on new staff to drive a growth in online sales.

Two new specialists have also been recruited to strengthen the Golden Bear digital team. Emily Swinnerton is the firm’s new digital assets coordinator and Rachel Longstone (pictured) joins as digital marketing executive.

Read more here :Telford's Golden Bear invests in digital thanks to grant help | Enterprise Telford (enterprise-telford.co.uk)

GET IN THE KNOW: Tech intel to help your business grow

Digital Skills for a Digital Manufacturing Future – access a new report from MAKE UK (the Manufacturers Organisation)

The key findings are below:

• 91% of manufacturers have benefited from the adoption of new technology during recent pandemic crisis
• A quarter say it boosted their productivity and 12% said it increased the rate of production
• 8/10 manufacturers now plan to continue using the technologies they have adopted
• 87% of manufacturers who had undertaken digital training in the last 12 months say it put them at an advantage
• However, a third of companies have not invested in any digital training in the last  year
• Two-thirds of manufacturers think education and training system is not keeping pacing with the adoption of new digital technologies
• Investment in digital skills can be a great leveller, allowing more and more businesses to realise the potential of new technologies to boost productivity

The full press release and report can be found here.

How six companies are using technology and data to transform themselves “Business leaders are saying that they’ve accomplished in 10 days what used to take them 10 months,” says Kate Smaje, a senior partner and global co-leader of McKinsey Digital. “That kind of speed is what’s unleashing a wave of innovation unlike anything we’ve ever seen.” Find out more in this multimedia presentation here How six companies are using technology and data to transform themselves (mckinsey.com)

Tech Nation boss discusses tech industry Despite 2020 being “a demanding year with some steep learning curves”, it is one of the only sectors seeing significant jobs growth nationwide – said Tech Nation CEO Gerald Greach and is ideally placed to help generate both roles for young people, and a wider economic recovery for the country. Read the full article here