Marvin OnumonuThe University of Wolverhampton, Birmingham City University and Coventry University will run an event focused on digital adoption, cyber resilience and leadership skills for local small and medium-sized businesses.
Hosted as part of the West Midlands Business Festival, the event will bring together academic experts, industry leaders and regional partners to explore the practical steps small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can take to harness new technologies, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), to strengthen productivity and growth.
The programme will also demonstrate how strengthened cyber resilience helps safeguard business continuity while boosting confidence among investors and supply‑chain partners.
The session will take place on 12th February at STEAMHouse, Belmont Row, Birmingham City University, Birmingham, West Midlands.
Wayne Langford, director at West Midlands Combined Universities (WMCU), will welcome guests and set out the day’s aims.
Professor Zeeshan Pervez, director of the Centre for Cyber Resilience and Artificial Intelligence (AI) at the University of Wolverhampton, will deliver the keynote.
The first panel will be chaired by Professor Paul Noon from Coventry University and will look at how businesses can use AI, improve cyber resilience and adopt new digital tools.
Noon will be joined by Richard Fallon, director at Technology Supply Chain, Dr Iain Rice from Birmingham City University, Professor James Brusey of Coventry University and Pervez.
The session will give examples of how digital tools can help with productivity, customer service and operations.
The second panel, also hosted by Noon, will discuss leadership, micro-credentials and workforce readiness.
Panellists will include Dan Carins from West Midlands Combined Authority, Professor Roya Rahimi from University of Wolverhampton, Andrew Neilson from Birmingham City University and Oliver Fisher, co-founder and chief product officer at SpringPod.
The collaboration aims to give firms practical steps to adopt new technology and develop leadership skills for growth.
