Celebrating innovation and collaboration at Birmingham Tech Week

Johnathan Dudley, National Head of Corporate SME Business

As part of our dedication to the UK technology sector, Crowe participated in Birmingham Tech Week, the UK’s largest regional tech festival and conference. We were thrilled to have over 30 Crowe experts from across the firm in attendance over the week.

We hosted a Tech Tipples fringe event at Albert’s Schloss which was a standout in the social programme. Our national head of Technology and Media, Leo Malkin, warmly welcomed guests from across the sector, including government representatives and intermediaries. This vibrant gathering provided an excellent opportunity for networking and exchanging ideas in a relaxed and enjoyable setting.

During the week we sponsored Birmingham Tech Week’s Global Growth Congress, underscoring our commitment to fostering innovation and international business expansion. Richard Austin, our Managing Partner of Global Business Solutions, contributed his expertise on a distinguished panel discussing strategies for businesses to expand internationally. His insights provided valuable guidance on navigating the complexities of global markets, highlighting our leadership in supporting business growth on a global scale.

Richard said: “Last week, I had the privilege of speaking on a panel at the Global Growth Congress during Birmingham Tech Week. It was an excellent opportunity to discuss how UK tech businesses can expand internationally, leveraging insights from my experience in Silicon Valley.

One of the key points I made was about the tight-knit community among tech businesses in the Bay Area. Unlike in the UK, where companies tend to be more protective of their knowledge, Silicon Valley fosters a culture of collaboration and knowledge-sharing. This openness has been instrumental in driving innovation and growth, and it’s something we can learn from to strengthen our own tech ecosystem.

This event really showcased the incredible potential within the UK tech sector and the exciting opportunities that lie ahead on the global stage.”

Our Chief Innovation Officer, Katy Bayliss, also attended the Women in Tech event. The session was particularly captivating, featuring a panel of empowered women who are striving to establish successful businesses. Their stories were truly inspiring, as they shared both their triumphs and struggles, and how they continue to overcome these challenges.

Katy said: “It was a pleasure to attend Birmingham Tech Week’s Women in Technology sessions which highlighted the challenges women face in reaching board level in the tech space.

Women’s contributions and ability to balance diverse responsibilities, driving innovation across all areas of business, were showcased through insightful speakers. As Chief Innovation Officer with responsibility for our technology, data insights, and client solutions teams, I’m proud to support this value within Crowe, fostering a more inclusive and innovative future.”

Our National Head of Corporate SME Business, Johnathan Dudley, led a fireside chat at the ScaleUp Summit towards the end of the week, drawing on his extensive experience in helping SME businesses grow. During the session, Johnathan shared valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities faced by SMEs in today’s dynamic market. Attendees had the opportunity to engage in a lively Q&A session, where Johnathan addressed their specific concerns and provided tailored advice.

To wrap up the week, our Regional Lead for Technology (Midlands and South West), Dan Town, participated in judging the Tech for Good category at the Tech Awards. The award was won by Black Space Technology, a company specialising in scalable and future-proof mobile telemedicine and telehealth solutions. Congratulations to Black Space for their outstanding achievement. Their innovative solutions are making a significant impact in the field of telehealth, and this recognition is well-deserved. We look forward to seeing their continued success and contributions to the industry.

Key learnings from the week

As the week unfolded, several key themes and concerns emerged, particularly in light of the upcoming Budget. One significant worry is the potential for increased capital taxation to drive young technical talent out of the UK. These individuals, who often hold valuable share options, might be incentivised to relocate abroad before these options are exercised, leading to a potential brain drain.

A highlight of the week was the presentation of a digital twin concept for cities. This innovative idea uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to predict the impact of carbon emissions and other pollutants on infrastructure. Although still in the conceptual phase, this project is a collaborative effort involving three local universities and the metropolitan authority, showcasing groundbreaking research that is already operational and was demonstrated during the event.

The UK is recognised for its expertise in AI, and there is a strong push to retain this knowledge domestically as it becomes increasingly commercialised. AI’s potential to transform lives for the better, coupled with the need for robust security and regulation, underscores the importance of keeping this technology within the UK. With many AI leaders based in the UK, there is a concerted effort to ensure that innovations originating here, such as the internet, remain in the country rather than being exploited overseas. This highlights the necessity of retaining talent and attracting both domestic and international investment into the UK tech economy.

Achieving these goals requires collaboration and support from both the government and industry. This includes access to finance, research and development, and the attraction and retention of skilled professionals, which may involve the provision of visas.

Leo Malkin, National Head of Technology and Media, emphasised the importance of the digital and technology sector, noting its inclusion as one of the eight key growth sectors in the new Industrial Strategy Green Paper, Invest 2035, released just before Tech Week. Technology is integral to all other key growth sectors, making it vital to the future prosperity of the UK and the world.

Birmingham Tech Week has underscored the critical role of technology in shaping our future and the need for strategic support to ensure the UK remains at the forefront of technological innovation.