Sheffield summit aims to smash northern tech's glass ceiling

Collaboration, connectivity and a mission to break through the barriers preventing northern tech businesses from unlocking their full potential will be on the agenda when the TECH SY Northern Tech Summit comes to Sheffield next week.

Bringing together hundreds of entrepreneurs, investors and policymakers from across Northern England, the two-day Northern Tech Summit will showcase some of the cutting-edge innovation currently being delivered, while strengthening connections between businesses, investors and support organisations to help northern tech companies compete on the global stage.

Confirmed speakers include Josephine Kant, Head of Ventures at the government-backed Sovereign AI investment fund; Tom Adeyoola, Executive Chair of Innovate UK; Ana Avaliani, Director of Enterprise & Place at the Royal Academy of Engineering; Yoram Wijngaarde, founder of Dealroom, a global intelligence platform that tracks high-growth businesses and venture capital investment; and  Sue Douglas, a former journalist turned tech entrepreneur who co-founded Veer, a machine learning start-up seeking to transform recruitment by placing greater emphasis on people's skills, ambitions and potential, rather than traditional qualifications and experience.

Throughout the two-day event, delegates will have the opportunity to take part in lively panel discussions and debates exploring the challenges of scaling technology businesses in the North, find out more about the different types of investment and support available to ambitious entrepreneurs working in the technology sector and the importance of building stronger connections between the region's technology ecosystems.

Wednesday will culminate in a special Northern Startup Showcase fringe event, bringing together business founders, demonstrations and networking opportunities, in a specially curated showcase illustrating some of the most exciting and innovative start-ups from across the North.

Data published by the global intelligence platform Dealroom has revealed that during the past decade, investments made in technology businesses have grown the northern tech ecosystem to over £68billion. However, with 61% of venture capital supporting businesses in the North coming from UK investors, compared with 31% across the whole of the UK, the conference will explore the barriers to growth and how building a stronger, more collaborative technology infrastructure can help to place Northern England at the forefront of tech innovation.

One person who has direct experience of the challenges facing growing and scaling businesses in the North is David Richards MBE. The seasoned Sheffield-born turned Silicon Valley entrepreneur co-founded Yorkshire AI Labs, which specialises in developing and supporting the next generation of artificial intelligence businesses:

“We are currently seeing arguably the most radical change in the way we all work since the dawn of the industrial revolution. The success of programmes being delivered by Tech SY illustrates that we must all embrace those opportunities beyond our own doorsteps. Historically, much of the innovative work being delivered, not just in South Yorkshire but across the whole of the North, happened in isolation, and events like the Northern Tech Summit help to illustrate that when barriers are broken, it can often prove to be transformational.

The main barrier facing many businesses isn’t just a case of a lack of investment but how those decisions are reached. In the UK, entrepreneurs have a choice of between 10-15 funds. In the United States there are over 3500 – many of which are driven by experienced business owners who have successfully built and scaled companies in their own right.

Josephine Kant, Head of Ventures, Sovereign AI, said:

“It’s undeniable that there’s a real sense of ambition and potential in the North, with many start-ups working on some genuinely exciting ideas. For us, it’s so important to be out meeting founders face-to-face, understanding what’s being built across the country. The opportunity in the North is significant, and I’m looking forward to continuing those conversations at the Northern Tech Summit, hearing from both founders and investors about what’s needed to unlock that potential.

The North has a huge amount going for it. Since launching, we’ve made a point of meeting hundreds of founders wherever they are, hosting events across the UK including in Newcastle and Manchester, and now we’re thrilled to be joining the Northern Tech Summit in Sheffield. It’s been great to see first-hand the depth of innovation and ambition across the whole country.”

Tracey Johnson, Project Director at TECH SY, said:

“The Northern Tech summit promises to be an unmissable event for entrepreneurs and business leaders in the technology sector looking to scale and grow, as well as key decision makers and policy makers. The Summit will showcase the success achieved by businesses from across the North, creating opportunities to collaborate and connect. It's a key opportunity to help break down perceived barriers and unlock the full potential of the North.”

To ensure the event is fully accessible, tickets for the two-day summit have been heavily subsidised to the price of £14, with day entry tickets also available. Limited tickets for the start-up showcase fringe event are also available, priced at £5. For more information, and to view the full event programme, visit: https://www.techsy.co.uk/tech-summit  

TECH SY is a unique initiative designed to help technology businesses across South Yorkshire to unlock their full potential. The programme is delivered by Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council and funded by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.