New Business Festival Set to Boost West Midlands Economy Next Spring

By Anushka Malhotra

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Tech

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Quick Read: The West Midlands will host its first-ever Business Festival in March 2024, providing local companies with a platform to connect, network, and showcase their innovations over two weeks of events.

The West Midlands is gearing up to launch its first-ever Business Festival next spring, offering small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) a unique opportunity to connect with the broader business community. The festival, organised by Business Growth West Midlands, will run from March 3 to 14, 2024, featuring two weeks of events designed to foster business growth and networking.

Mayor Richard Parker announced the event, highlighting its focus on creating opportunities for local businesses to collaborate with potential partners, industry experts, and investors. The programme will include conferences, workshops, networking sessions, exhibitions, product launches, and dinners.

Credit: West Midlands Combined Authority

Mayor Parker emphasised the importance of supporting SMEs, which form the backbone of the region's economy. “I want to make the West Midlands the best place to start and grow a business, and the Business Festival is a key part of that. It’s a chance for businesses to come together, get back to growth, and create real opportunities, especially for our young people.”

Applications are now open for businesses to apply to host events during the festival. This initiative aims to create a dynamic environment where companies can showcase their innovations and establish connections that will drive future growth.

The festival is set to become a central platform for promoting regional economic development, offering valuable insights and opportunities for local enterprises.

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Aurrigo’s Autonomous Airport Tech Gets Green Light for Global Deployment

Coventry-based Aurrigo International has received formal approval for its autonomous ground handling technologies to be rolled out across over 60 airports globally, following a successful trial at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.

The breakthrough comes through its partnership with Aviation Solutions, a division of the Royal Schiphol Group, announced in April 2024. After testing Aurrigo’s Auto-DollyTug® and Auto-Sim® systems at Schiphol, the technology has now been validated for broader commercial deployment.

Royal Schiphol Group—operator of Schiphol, Rotterdam The Hague, and Lelystad Airports—holds stakes in a host of global hubs including Eindhoven, Brisbane, Hobart International, and JFK Terminal 4, and has collaboration agreements with Beijing Capital International Airport and Seoul Incheon. This global footprint now opens the door for Aurrigo’s smart airside innovations to be adopted worldwide.

Photo Credit: Aurrigo

Marcel Stroop, Director of Go-to-Market at Aviation Solutions said:

“Aurrigo is a true front-runner in autonomous ground handling. We work to deliver solutions we can guarantee 100%, and Aurrigo is now part of that movement—bringing proven innovations from Schiphol to airports around the world.”

The successful trial featured Aurrigo’s Auto-DollyTug®, a next-generation electric and autonomous vehicle for transporting luggage and cargo, and Auto-Sim®, a simulation platform that enables airports to plan, model and optimise autonomous operations in advance of real-world deployment.

With validation in hand, the next phase will focus on commercialising Aurrigo’s technology through Aviation Solutions’ extensive global network.

David Keene, CEO of Aurrigo said:

“This endorsement confirms the demand for our smart airside solutions. It also strengthens our go-to-market strategy by working with a trusted, incentivised partner who connects us with well-informed, progressive aviation customers.”

Aurrigo’s innovations are part of a growing trend toward automation in aviation, helping airports reduce costs, improve operational efficiency, and support sustainability goals.

By Anushka Malhotra

8 Apr