Looking ahead to the Innovation in Digitech event
Instead of our usual blog from our Business Growth Manager, Jacqui Stimpson, this week we’re delighted to share a blog from Tim Robinson, Chief Operating Officer at Tech East.
On Friday 7th July, we’re hosting an exciting Innovation in Digitech event from Ambitious Essex and Ambitious Women in Essex. We’ll hear from Tim, as well as some brilliant digital innovators, Caitlin Glover, Founder, Syper Education and Beth-May Leddra-Chapman, Freelance UX/UI Designer.
In his guest blog, Tim is explaining why Essex is well placed to be a hotbed of digital innovation and business growth. If you want to find out more, join us for the free Innovation in Digitech event or get in touch to discover how Launchpad Southend offers the right setting and support for turning your lightbulb moment into a viable business proposition.
So, why has there never been a better time to start a digital business in Essex?
Spoiler alert!
Come and find out more on Friday at Launchpad but here are a few teasers.
There are now all the ingredients for success thanks to recent investments in the ‘infrastructure’ to support a thriving tech ecosystem.
Essex is part of the ‘supercluster’ that is the East of England – consistently ranking among the most innovative regions of the UK.
What can Essex offer you?
Essex is a thriving region with a long history of entrepreneurial spirit but also more recently a place of forward-thinking support and investment opportunities.
What makes Essex different? Here are four key reasons why this is the place to start and watch your digitech business grow:
- Cool workspaces where you can build your startup and collaborate, meeting the right people to help you on your journey. Innovation is a ‘contact sport’ and ambitious founders don’t operate in isolation. We need peers, mentors and role models.
- A supply of fresh talent from Essex’s universities which ‘get’ digital and have worked hard to put in place ‘tech friendly’ course offers and programmes. Not just graduates but apprentices, as well as access to cutting-edge academic research.
- Access to investors and finance, for example, the Angels @ Essex investor group are ready to hear your pitch for early-stage investment.
- Sympathetic local councils that are backing digital growth, creating the right connectivity, business environment and schemes.
The post-pandemic world
During and since the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses and customers across all sectors have had to rapidly digitise themselves. This means the appetite to adopt new digital products and services is greater than ever.
Tech East is proud to be working in Essex and helping join the dots across the area. I’m hugely looking forward to this Friday’s Innovation in Digitech event at Launchpad in Southend – come and join the discussion and meet like-minded entrepreneurs and innovators!
More about Tim
Tim is Chief Operating Officer of Tech East, the digital tech cluster organisation for the East of England. He is a founding board member of the UK Tech Cluster Group member.
Prior to returning to the East of England Tim held international general management, strategic marketing, and tech product roles at Thomson Reuters, Informa and RICS. He is a non-executive director of UEA’s Norwich Business School and a board member of the New Anglia LEP Cultural Board. He was educated at London Business School and Newcastle University.
