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:
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:
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.
Telecoms Programme activities
techUK brings together government, the regulator, telecom companies and stakeholders to help the UK maximise the benefits of adopting advanced communications services. We ensure our members have a clear understanding of market developments, customer requirements, and government priorities. Visit the programme page here.
Upcoming events
Latest news and insights
Learn more and get involved
Telecoms updates
Sign-up to get the latest updates and opportunities from our Communications Infrastructure and Services programme.
Meet the team
Tales Gaspar
Programme Manager, UK SPF and Satellite, techUK
Tales has a background in law and economics, with previous experience in the regulation of new technologies and infrastructure.
In the UK and Europe, he offered consultancy on intellectual property rights of cellular and IoT technologies and on the regulatory procedures at the ITU as a Global Fellow at the European Space Policy Institute (ESPI).
Tales has an LL.M in Law and Business by the Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV) and an MSc in Regulation at the London School of Economics, with a specialization in Government and Law.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- +44 (0) 0207 331 2000
- Website:
- www.techUK.org
- LinkedIn:
- www.linkedin.com/in/talesngaspar
Read lessmore
Sophie Greaves
Associate Director, Digital Infrastructure, techUK
Sophie Greaves is Associate Director for Digital Infrastructure at techUK, overseeing the Telecoms Programme, the Data Centres Programme, and the UK Spectrum Policy Forum.
Sophie leads our work across telecoms networks, security and resilience, supply chain diversification, advanced communications technologies, spectrum policy, and data centres - bringing these areas together into a dedicated Digital Infrastructure unit. She was previously Head of Telecoms and Spectrum Policy.
Prior to joining techUK, Sophie completed a masters in Film Studies at University College London; her dissertation examined US telecoms policy relating to net neutrality and content distribution.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 0207 331 2038
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiegreaves/,https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiegreaves/
Read lessmore
Josh Turpin
Programme Manager, Telecoms and Net Zero, techUK
Josh joined techUK as a Programme Manager for Telecoms and Net Zero in August 2024.
In this role, working jointly across the techUK Telecoms and Climate Programmes, Josh is responsible for leading on telecoms infrastructure deployment and uptake and supporting innovation opportunities, as well as looking at how the tech sector can be further utilised in the UK’s decarbonisation efforts.
Prior to joining techUK, Josh’s background was in public affairs and communications, working for organisations across a diverse portfolio of sectors including defence, telecoms and infrastructure; aiding clients through stakeholder engagement, crisis communications, media outreach as well as secretariat duties.
Outside of work, Josh has a keen interest in music, painting and sailing.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 020 7331 2038
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-turpin/
Read lessmore
