West Midlands Universities unite to equip SMEs with AI and Cyber skills

Small and medium‑sized enterprises (SMEs) from across the West Midlands came together last week for a high‑impact digital innovation event delivered collaboratively by the University of Wolverhampton Business School, Birmingham City University (BCU) and Coventry University.

Hosted at Birmingham City University's STEAMhouse as part of the West Midlands Business Festival, the session equipped business leaders with hands‑on guidance to accelerate digital adoption, strengthen cyber resilience, and develop the leadership capability needed to scale in an AI‑driven economy.

The well-attended event brought together academics, industry experts and regional partners for keynote insights, panel debates and interactive networking focussed on the practical actions SMEs can take today to enhance productivity, streamline operations and fuel innovation.

AI Masterclass Sets the Scene

The evening opened with a keynote, “Gen AI Masterclass for Small Businesses,” delivered by Professor Zeeshan Pervez, Director of CYBRAI (Centre for Cyber Resilience and Artificial Intelligence) at the University of Wolverhampton.

Professor Pervez demonstrated real-world use cases of generative AI across sectors, showcasing how tools can empower SMEs to work smarter, unlock efficiencies and make data‑driven decisions with confidence.

Expert Insights for SME Growth

Two expert panel sessions followed, chaired by Professor Paul Noon of Coventry University, covering:

AI, Cyber Resilience and Digital Adoption

The session was led by Professor Zeeshan Pervez, Director of CYBRAI from the University of Wolverhampton and included panellists from the partner universities, alongside industry representatives from the Technology Supply Chain. The panel shared practical examples of how SMEs can adopt emerging technologies quickly and safely highlighting the importance of embedding cyber resilience as a core enabler of trust and business continuity.

Leadership, Skills and Workforce Readiness

Organised by the Executive Education team at WLV Business School in partnership with WMCU universities, the second panel examined the skills needed to support digital transformation, including leadership development, micro‑credentials and sector‑specific training pathways.

Professor Roya Rahimi from the University of Wolverhampton, one of the panellists for the session said: “It was a wonderful evening, I really enjoyed being part of the panel and sharing ideas with colleagues from across industry, technology, and academia.

Our conversation addressed several themes that are central to the future of SMEs, including AI adoption, cyber-resilience, leadership capability, and the role of organisational culture in enabling sustainable innovation.”

Strengthening the Region’s Innovation Ecosystem

The event builds on the success of last year’s joint initiative, reinforcing the commitment of the three universities, working under the banner of the West Midlands Combined Universities (WMCU) to support the region’s tens of thousands of SMEs.

By combining academic expertise with industry partnerships, the collaboration provides businesses with:

• actionable insights on emerging technologies
• access to tailored skills and training provision
• improved understanding of cyber resilience
• confidence to adopt and scale digital solutions

Attendees also connected with organisations offering direct routes to support, including regional networks, innovation programmes and business growth providers.

A Unified Approach to SME Success

Closing the event, Richard Fallon, CEO of the Technology Supply Chain, praised the collaborative model, noting that equipping SMEs with the tools and knowledge to embrace digital transformation is essential to the region’s economic growth.

Wayne Langford, Director of WMCU, added that cross‑university partnerships are vital in ensuring the West Midlands continues to lead nationally in digital innovation, advanced skills and business support.