Forging The Future: West Midlands Manufacturers Meet Their AI Mentors
By East Village
2 minutes 31 seconds
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Quick Read: AND Digital, TechWM, and partners have teamed up to help West Midlands manufacturers introduce AI to their operations. The AI Adoption Acceleration Programme, a fully-funded 12-week programme will give free support to eight businesses from across the West Midlands as they enhance their technological integrations.
Led by AND Digital and TechWM with support from SF Technology, Browne Jacobson, Technology Supply Chain, and Oxford Innovation Advice, yesterday saw the kick-off event for the innovative AI Adoption Acceleration Programme. Hosted at X+Why in Birmingham’s city centre, the eight West Midlands manufacturing businesses had the chance to meet their AI mentors, network with likeminded teams, and hear from leading regional tech figures as the successful applicants look ahead to the start of the future proofing process on the 1st of July.
In light of a concerning lack of data, expertise, and investment, manufacturing businesses from across the West Midlands - an emerging global tech hub - will be embarking on a journey to accelerate AI integration. With a projected global market size of $68 billion and anticipated productivity gains of at least 40%, AND Digital and TechWM have invited businesses to embrace AI and future-proof their tech in the heart of the historical industrial city.
The eight chosen businesses come from a range of backgrounds, sectors, and sizes with each of them set to adopt artificial intelligence to speed up their processes and improve efficiency whilst generating jobs and cutting costs. AND Digital has cited a lack of tools, resources, knowledge, and networks as key blockers for manufacturing businesses introducing artificial intelligence, but the AI Adoption Acceleration Programme aims to be the start of an industry-wide change in approach to the implementation.
Thanks to the West Midlands’ historic affinity with the world of manufacturing, the programme will see some of the region’s most well-known industry names welcome AI with open arms in an effort to future-proof their operations. The eight businesses involved are:
• Commercial and domestic steelworkers, Arc Metal Design
• Food manufacturers, Bridge Cheese
• Made to measure window treatment providers, Reynolds Blinds
• Engine manufacturers, Advanced Innovative Engineering
• Machining solutions providers, Rowan Precision
• Multifaceted engineering team, James Lister and Sons
• Coffee machine manufacturers, Fracino
• Metal service centres, William King Ltd.
Officially launching on the 1st of July, the kick-off event was a chance for the teams in the programme to meet their mentors and experts who will be guiding them through the process, hear from the teams coordinating the programme, and hear from the likes of the Martin Ward, the West Midlands Tech Commissioner as he reiterated the importance of retaining heritage businesses in the West Midlands by ensuring they’re ready for the future.
These 8 businesses will be showcased during Birmingham Tech Week from 21st - 25th October 2024.
Sharing his/her thoughts, XX at AND Digital said:
“QUOTE TO BE INSERTED”
Yiannis Maos MBE, CEO at TechWM added:
“The West Midlands is such a special place because it’s a rare intersection of past and present. Our rich history in manufacturing, trade, and production has given us an incredible opportunity to be a step ahead when it comes to preparing for the future and the AI Adoption Acceleration Programme is the key to doing so. When exploring how we can continue to cement the region as a global tech superpower, making the most of the industrial titans we already have thriving in the area was a no brainer and working with the brilliant AND Digital meant we could equip some historic names and up-and-coming disruptors with the tech, knowledge, and tools to enhance the incredible work they’re already doing.
“I cannot wait to see how these teams introduce and integrate AI into their businesses in the coming months and I’m sure that, at the end of it, we’ll have eight businesses ready to tackle the future head on.”
The AI Adoption Acceleration Programme commences on the 1st of July for 12 weeks. To find out more, visit https://www.and.digital/west-midlands-ai-adoption-accelerator-programme.
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The State of the West Midlands Digital Skills Ecosystem

Digital skill shortages could have cost the UK £4.4 billion last year alone, with projections escalating to a staggering £27.6 billion by 2030. The West Midlands, in particular, is experiencing increasing demand for intermediate and advanced digital skills - as stated by a recent research from the University of Birmingham’s City-Regional Economic Development Institute (City-REDI). 
While these figures are alarming, they are not surprising. Addressing digital skills shortages in our region represents a significant economic opportunity. With the right interventions, we have the potential to unlock unprecedented growth. 
Nearly five months into my role as Director of Digital Skills and Commercial Impact at TechWM, I’ve had countless conversations with organisations across various sectors. My goal? To understand their immediate and long-term digital skills needs—and, more importantly, why there remains such a stark mismatch between digital skills supply and demand in the West Midlands.
Photo: Victoria Pargetter-Garner, Director - Digital Skills & Commercial Impact
Shifting Perspectives on the Digital Skills Gap
Initially, I assumed that this challenge was primarily supply-side: a lack of skilled individuals entering the workforce. However, after deeper exploration, I’ve uncovered significant demand-side barriers that are preventing businesses from fully leveraging digital talent.
Let’s rewind to 2020, when the pandemic forced businesses to adopt digital tools overnight. At that time, the focus was on up-skilling the workforce to ensure employees could use essential platforms like Microsoft Teams and Zoom. There was also a surge in demand for advanced technical skills in areas such as cybersecurity, data analytics, and AI.
Since then, numerous policy interventions have aimed to boost digital skills. However, these initiatives have often been fragmented, poorly promoted, and disconnected from the businesses that could benefit the most.
The Business Reality: Short-Term Pressures Stalling Long-Term Growth
Today, while the supply of digital talent is improving, external factors such as economic uncertainty and budget constraints are forcing businesses into survival mode. Many organisations, instead of planning for the next three to five years, are focused on making it through the next quarter.
This short-term approach limits investment in digital transformation. Businesses are firefighting rather than strategising—missing out on opportunities to implement AI, automation, and other digital efficiencies that could drive productivity and profitability. Ironically, the very investments that could help businesses cut costs and gain a competitive edge are being delayed due to perceived financial and time constraints.
Photo: Yiannis Maos MBE, Richard Bovey, Victoria Pargetter-Garner, Mayor Richard Parker, Vikki Bradney-Spencer, Mike Lattimer, Lauren Monks, David Gaughan
The Disconnect Between Employers and Digital Talent
We know that businesses are struggling to find the right digital talent. Yet, paradoxically, we also know that many skilled individuals—particularly those completing digital skills bootcamps—are struggling to secure relevant employment.
So, what’s going wrong?
1. Do employers simply not know about available training initiatives?
2. Are businesses hesitant to onboard talent that lacks real-world experience?
3. Is it a case of limited resources, where employers can’t afford to train new hires?
Similarly, we see a significant underutilisation of free or heavily subsidised upskilling programs. Despite funding being available, many businesses are not taking advantage of these opportunities. Why? Is it a lack of awareness? Are course costs still perceived as too high? Or is it simply that businesses can’t afford to release staff for training?
Help Us Shape the Future of Digital Skills in the West Midlands
These are just some of the working hypotheses based on the conversations I’ve had so far. But to drive meaningful change, we need more data. That’s why, as part of the West Midlands Digital Skills Consortium—a collaboration between TechWM, the West Midlands Combined Authority, IBM UK Ltd., AND Digital, In4 Group, the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, and Skills West Midlands and Warwickshire—we are launching an employer survey.
This survey aims to provide a comprehensive view of the current digital skills landscape, helping us design initiatives that truly meet business needs. By combining this data with insights from previous surveys, such as the Local Skills Improvement Plan, we hope to develop a regional blueprint for digital skills growth—one that drives economic prosperity.
Get Involved
If you’re a business leader in the West Midlands, we need your input. Please take five minutes to complete our
Employer Survey
. Your insights will directly inform new initiatives and interventions to bridge the digital skills gap.
Additionally, we will be hosting a series of workshops to explore these challenges in greater depth. If you’d like to contribute to shaping the future of digital skills in our region, drop me an email on:
vickie@techwm.com
and I’d love to have a chat.  
Together, we can build a stronger, more digitally empowered West Midlands—one that is ready to tackle the challenges of today and seize the opportunities of tomorrow. Let’s make tech succeed, in the most human of places! 
By Victoria Pargetter-Garner
24 Feb
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