Universities join forces to support regional businesses at West Midlands Business Festival

The University of Wolverhampton, Birmingham City University (BCU) and Coventry University are once again collaborating to deliver a specialist event designed to boost digital adoption, cyber resilience and leadership skills among small and medium‑sized enterprises (SMEs) across the West Midlands.

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 SMEs can take to harness new technologies - particularly artificial intelligence (AI) - to strengthen productivity and growth.

Attendees will gain practical insights through lively panel discussions, real‑world examples and sector‑specific expertise, exploring how AI can enhance productivity, elevate customer experience, streamline operations and drive innovation. 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 Thursday 12 February at STEAMHouse, Belmont Row, Birmingham City University, Birmingham, West Midlands, B4 7RQ.  Featuring keynote insights, two expert panel discussions, and hands‑on networking with organisations offering routes to support.

Event Programme

3:30pm – 4:30pm: Arrival, Registration & Networking

4:30pm – 4:40pm: Welcome & Event Overview
Wayne Langford, Director, West Midlands Combined Universities (WMCU)

4:40pm – 5:00pm: Keynote: “Gen AI Masterclass for Small Businesses”
Professor Zeeshan Pervez, Director of CYBRAI (Centre for Cyber Resilience and Artificial Intelligence), University of Wolverhampton

5:00pm – 5:40pm: Panel Session 1
‘From Awareness to Action: AI, Cyber Resilience & Digital Adoption for SMEs’
Hosted by Professor Paul Noon, Coventry University

Panel:

• Professor Paul Noon Coventry University (Host)
• Richard Fallon, Director, Technology Supply Chain
• Dr Iain Rice, Birmingham City University
• Professor James Brusey, Coventry University
• Prof Zeeshan Pervez, University of Wolverhampton

5:40pm – 6:20pm: Panel Session 2
‘Building the Skills to Scale: Leadership, Micro‑Credentials & Workforce Readiness’
Hosted by Professor Paul Noon, Coventry University

Panel:

• Professor Paul Noon Coventry University (Host)
• Dan Carins, West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA)
• Prof Roya Rahimi, University of Wolverhampton
• Andrew Neilson, Birmingham City University
• Oliver Fisher, Co-Founder & Chief Product Officer SpringPod

6:20pm – 6:25pm: Closing Remarks
Richard Fallon, CEO, The Technology Supply Chain

6:25pm – 7:00pm: Showcasing Routes to Support & Networking

Building on Last Year’s Success

The event follows last year’s well‑received collaboration between the three universities, which focused on supporting local SMEs to navigate an increasingly digital landscape.

Strengthening the Region’s Business Ecosystem

The West Midlands is home to tens of thousands of SMEs that drive economic growth and innovation. By combining academic expertise with industry partnerships, this collaborative event aims to give businesses the confidence and practical tools to adopt emerging technologies, while developing the leadership capability needed to scale.