CITY REGION MAYOR PREPARING FOR DIGITAL REVOLUTION
19
25
26
CITY REGION MAYOR PREPARING FOR DIGITAL REVOLUTION
The latest event in Wirral Chamber’ s popular In Business series was held at the Lauries and played host to an audience of 80 + delegates from across Wirral’ s business community.
The digital sector has a direct bearing on every business and it is little wonder that business owners were keen to get involved in this event and listen to a number of informative and inspiring presentations from LCR Mayor Steve Rotheram, Tom Cullen from Digitel Solutions and Mandy Guage from BT Local Business.
A discussion panel of local experts including Kurt Beaumont Jones( Vigo IT Solutions), Simon Sloan( Hi Impact) and Dean Currall( Verb Marketing) was chaired by LCR Business Post editor Alistair Houghton and took centre stage following the presentations. The panel addressed key issues around digital infrastructure and capacity; GDPR and marketing in the digital age and also discussed what the future may hold for business in the technology and information sector.
Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram was keen to emphasise that our region boasts a range of natural and man made assets which are unique to the UK and which can be harnessed to put us at the forefront of the 4th Industrial revolution by creating an ultra fast digital economy to attract new and established technology companies.
The City Region is already home to the UK’ s most powerful supercomputer at the Hartree Centre in Daresbury and we also have the Hibernia Transatlantic Data Cable link coming into Southport from the U. S. A. Plans are in place to lay fibre cable around the region’ s rail network to link these and other digital assets to form a network with unrivalled UK capacity and an 8ms advantage over our nearest competitors.
The process of mapping the region’ s digital assets is currently underway with a view to assessing what is needed to maximise our digital connectivity and take us towards Local Full Fibre Network status. This may involve creating a cooperative of public and private sector digital assets and digital exchanges for business and community to tap into.
Mandy Guage from BT Local Business emphasised the need for all businesses to keep abreast of their own digital capabilities and outlined the work that BT is doing to update and upgrade its services and infrastructure. This includes the roll out of Gfast( fibre to cabinet) with data speeds in excess of 330Mbs; the availability of lease lines which remove data contention issues by guaranteeing up to 100Mbs up and down into your premises via a dedicated fibre connection.
Tom Cullen from Digitel Europe stressed the importance of upgrading our local digital infrastructure and also called for the cost of connectivity to be substantially reduced if we are to achieve the desired stimulus for our local SMEs.
Digitel’ s latest offering is a cloud-based telecoms exchange which could transform how SMEs communicate. Biznet offers universal access via handset, desktop, laptop or mobile with equal ease and is part of a special package available to Wirral Chamber members, the specialised user group can provide free calls to local mobile and national numbers.
If you want to join Wirral Chamber and gain free access to the events as part your membership – call us on 0151 650 6940 or email membership @ wirralchamber. co. uk
He went on to state that many technology giants are now looking to become carbon neutral and that plans for a tidal barrage on the Mersey and the resultant sustainable energy created will further enhance the attraction of the region as a place from which to do business.
Digital technology is transforming the world and will continue to do so over the coming decades. UK digital industries are growing 30 % faster than the wider economy and the economic benefits to the region will be huge when we turn that vision into reality.
UPCOMING EVENTS THIS MONTH
APRIL
19
THURS 09:30- 12: 00
APRIL
25
WEDS 17:30- 19:30
APRIL
26
THURS 15:00- 17:00
In Business Event: WAVE Event: Digital & Creative Forum:
With a focus on International Trade, members will have the opportunity to hear from and meet delegates from Ireland Chamber, LJLA and International Business Festival.
68 wirrallife. com
WAVE is Wirral Chamber’ s popular speed networking event. It is a fast, easy and invigorating approach to networking. Participants will meet a wide range of businesses and leave the session with a list of new, meaningful business contacts.
With significant growth opportunities for the Liverpool City Region, Wirral Chamber of Commerce wants to ensure that local Creative and Digital businesses have a forum to learn, share, collaborate and grow. The forum events will provide an overview of the Creative and Digital sector, offering predictions and insights to help delegates form their future strategies.