Technology and the business opportunities being created by digital innovators will be on the agenda at a free event hosted by University Centre Shrewsbury (UCS) and Shropshire Council next week.

People are invited to the TECH Severn Business Breakfast on Tuesday 17 July 2018, from 7.30am at Guildhall in Frankwell Quay, UCS’s learning and research base.

The event precedes the TECH Severn Conference which is being held at Theatre Severn from 10am to 5pm, to look at how technology may help solve many of the challenges faced by councils and businesses across the UK.

The business breakfast is hosted by Councillor Nic Laurens, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for economic growth, and Paul Kirkbright, UCS Deputy Provost, with insights from:

• James Arthur from Posturban Ventures and Anon AI;
• Richard Howells from Bronze Labs;
• Andy Begley, Shropshire Council’s director of adult social care and housing.

The event has been co-ordinated by CREST@UCS (the Centre for Research into Environmental Science and Technology).

Vicki Ayton, Business Development Manager for CREST@UCS said:

“Are you part of a technology company based in Shropshire and want to meet like-minded, innovative people? Would you like to hear more about the opportunities for Shropshire to grow upon its existing strengths in geospatial, manufacturing and environmental technologies? Are you interested in how the county can become the place for digital innovation in many fields including artificial intelligence, open source data, digi-health, sports technology and assistive technology?

“This will be your chance to network with business leaders, local politicians and innovators; discover potential business opportunities, and make vital connections you might not ordinarily have made, all over breakfast.”

Mr Kirkbright and Joe McArdle, Director of Health from UCS, will also be speaking at the TECH Severn Conference on initiatives in technology being explored by the Higher Education Institution with partners.

Places for the business breakfast are free but people are asked to register here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tech-severn-business-breakfast-tickets-46847347678.

For further information email Annabel Tipp, UCS Project Administrator at a.tipp@chester.ac.uk.

To book a place for the TECH Severn Conference or for further information, please go to: shropshire.gov.uk/whats-on/whats-on/tech-severn-conference-2018.

CREST@UCS is a £1.97 million initiative, in partnership with University Centre Reaseheath. The Centre is helping environmental science and technology businesses to grow and succeed, and has been made possible by a European Regional Development Fund grant.

Further information

CREST@UCS

CREST@UCS is receiving up to £1.2 million of funding from the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is the Managing Authority for the European Regional Development Fund.

Established by the European Union, the European Regional Development Fund helps local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support innovation, businesses, create jobs and local community regenerations. For more information visit www.gov.uk/european-growth-funding.

CREST@UCS was awarded the European Regional Development Fund grant via the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership, with the University of Chester contributing around another £800,000.

To find out more about CREST@UCS go to www.crestatucs.com.