techUK is proud to bring its regional Telecoms Showcase series to Yorkshire - convening industry, local government, investors and innovators to spotlight the role of digital infrastructure in driving inclusive economic growth across the region.
Building on the success of the London, North West, South West and West Midlands Telecoms Showcases, techUK is delighted to bring this series to Yorkshire. As a leading advocate for the UK tech sector, techUK works alongside local authorities, combined authorities, devolved government, and national policymakers to champion the role of digital connectivity in strengthening regional economic growth and resilience.
Yorkshire stands at a pivotal moment in its digital journey with major infrastructure investment under way, a rich innovation ecosystem and ambitious plans for connectivity across urban and rural communities alike. This Showcase will bring together the region's leading voices from industry, the public sector, and the investment community to take stock of progress, tackle shared challenges and chart a course for what comes next.
Why Yorkshire?
Home to some of the UK's most ambitious infrastructure programmes and a thriving cluster of digital innovators, Yorkshire is playing a central role in the national mission to deliver world-class connectivity. The region's combined authorities, universities, and private sector partners are leading the way in turning connectivity investment into tangible economic and social outcomes.
This Showcase will place Yorkshire's digital infrastructure story in a national context, and explore how the region can attract further investment, showcase its innovation pipeline, and ensure that connectivity delivers for every community.
Agenda
09:00 – 09:30 | Registration and networking
09:30 – 09:45 | Welcome and opening remarks
Josh Turpin, techUK
Max Handforth, MD Business Solutions, Liberty Blume
09:45 – 10:05 | Keynote: The future of digital infrastructure in the UK
Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Session 1 – Infrastructure deployment
10:05 – 10:40 | Panel: Building the networks across Yorkshire
Chloe Wood, VP Operations, Liberty Blume
Kasam Hussain, Regional Partnership Director, Openreach
Hayley Sykes, Director of Brand, Communications and Public Affairs, nexfibre
Kate North, Senior Public Affairs Manager, VMO2
10:40 – 11:00 | Project spotlight: Delivering Project Gigabit in Yorkshire
Dan Hague, Director Contract and Programme Delivery, Quickline Communications
11:00 – 11:25 | Networking break
Session 2 – Data and digital infrastructure
11:25 – 11:45 | Insight talk: Using data to drive infrastructure deployment
Katie Todd, Director of Wayleave, Liberty Blume
11:45 – 12:00 | Fireside chat: Investing in digital infrastructure in the North
12:00 – 12:30 | Innovation spotlight: Digital infrastructure innovation in Yorkshire
12:30 – 13:30 | Networking lunch
Session 3 – Digital infrastructure in practice
13:30 – 13:50 | Case study: Connectivity enabling public services
13:50 – 14:30 | Panel: The Yorkshire digital infrastructure ecosystem
Sarah Bowes, Head of Business, Innovation and Inclusive Economy, West Yorkshire Combined Authority
Ady Rhodes, Managing Director, Comtech
14:30 – 14:35 | Closing remarks
Session 4 – Public sector workshop (closed)
14:40 – 15:30 | Combined authority workshop
Speakers:
Who should attend?
This event is designed for those shaping, funding or delivering digital infrastructure across Yorkshire. This includes:
- Local and regional government stakeholders
- Telecoms providers and infrastructure builders
- Investors and financial institutions
- SMEs and digital solution providers
- Academic and research institutions
- Central government and regulators
- Public sector digital leaders
- Technology innovators and start-ups
If you are interested in contributing to the programme or exploring sponsorship opportunities, please get in touch with the techUK Telecoms team.
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.
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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
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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/
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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/
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