Event roundup: West Midlands Telecoms Showcase
In late January techUK was pleased to host the West Midlands Telecoms Showcase in partnership with UK Telecoms Lab in Solihull. The event brought together industry, local government and policy leaders to explore how advanced connectivity can drive regional growth and innovation.
The third in a series of regional digital infrastructure events led by techUK’s Telecoms Programme, the next showcase will be focused on Yorkshire and will take place in Summer 2026.
Introductions and transformation
Opening the event as host, Joanna Cavan OBE, Managing Director of UKTL, highlighted the critical role of collaboration between government, industry and regions in building secure, resilient and future-ready digital infrastructure.
In the keynote, Robert Franks, Managing Director of WM5G, set out the West Midlands’ journey as a leading 5G Innovation Region, emphasising the need to move beyond pilots and testbeds towards commercial deployment and public sector adoption. He highlighted the challenge of closing the adoption gap, ensuring that innovation drives productivity, growth and improved public services.
Local leadership
A central theme throughout the day was the importance of local leadership in turning connectivity into outcomes. In the first panel, chaired by Robert Franks, attendees heard from:
Jesam Eyong, Public Sector Lead, Cornerstone
Mike Waters, Chief Technology & Insight Officer, WMCA
Suzanne Cash, Assistive Technologies Director, Wolverhampton Council
Judith Ferrarin, Head of Barrier Busting Connectivity, WM5G
The discussion explored how the region is moving beyond experimentation to real-world deployment, with speakers sharing lessons from public sector use cases, infrastructure delivery, and collaboration between local authorities and industry. A strong theme was the importance of designing connectivity solutions around user needs, particularly in areas such as accessibility, transport and public services.
Attention then turned to local leadership and place-based delivery. Tony Hall, Client Director at ITS Technology Group, reflected on the role of industry in supporting local authorities to deliver reliable, future-proof connectivity. As part of the session, Tony interviewed Heather Clark, Head of City Economy and External Funding and Julie Bentley, Digital Economy Team Manager from Wolverhampton City Council, where the two shared insights into how Wolverhampton is embedding digital infrastructure into its wider economic and regeneration strategy, using connectivity as a catalyst for business growth, skills development and inclusive outcomes.
Digital growth across the region
In a session focused on the future, Mark Robinson, Strategic Lead at West Midlands Growth Company (WMGC), explored how digital infrastructure underpins regional competitiveness. He highlighted the importance of aligning connectivity investment with business support, inward investment and sector growth strategies to maximise impact across the regional economy. The underlining message for any companies interested in the region was to align with the WMGC’s priorities and collaborate to growth the economy.
Building the foundations of future connectivity
The afternoon sessions focused on the foundations required for long-term success, including skills, regulation and investment certainty.
A fireside chat chaired by Andy Smith of the National Physical Laboratory, brought together Cian Galvin, DSIT’s Head of TechFirst and Cyber Skills Team and Kostas Katsaros, Head of Technology – Future Networks & 5G at Digital Catapult. The session explored how skills, R&D and innovation support must evolve alongside network deployment, ensuring that the West Midlands has the talent and capability needed to lead in future networks. The session ensured that both technology and people cannot be viewed in siloes, but working together to deliver a connected future.
The final session saw WM5G’s Judith Ferrarin interview Brian Potterill, Ofcom’s Director of Competition Policy. This session explored the regulatory environment needed to support competition, investment and innovation, alongside the practical challenges of delivering connectivity at pace and scale from a regulatory perspective.
Across the day, several clear insights emerged:
Adoption matters as much as deployment
Regional leadership is critical
Collaboration is essential
Future readiness requires investment in skills and regulation, alongside infrastructure
What’s next?
The West Midlands continues to demonstrate how regions can act as testbeds for national ambition, providing valuable lessons for the UK’s wider digital and infrastructure strategy. techUK will continue to work with members, policymakers and regional partners to ensure telecoms and digital infrastructure are recognised as foundations of economic growth, resilience and innovation.
