CLUSTER NEWS – May 2024
Follow up on April’s Skills Workshop
At the cluster organisation, we are working hard on the skills and talent agenda. After last month’s HealthTech Skills Workshop I have been busy this month actioning some of the key outcomes from the workshop.
The employers present said that a HealthTech bootcamp would be welcome and they are willing to help co-produce its content. I have engaged with the Combined Authority’s skills team, and potential training providers, to scope this bootcamp.
The Combined Authority offers a new Path2Apprenticeships programme which will provide 3,300 places for young people (ages 19-29) on pre-apprenticeship courses to ready them for their apprenticeships. The pre-apprenticeship course is backed by serious funding, so there is no cost to employers and the trainees are paid at the National Minimum Wage while training. I am working to develop a campaign to let HealthTech employers know about this programme and to ask them to commit to taking the young people who successfully complete the pre-course as apprentices in your businesses.
I continue to work with the Combined Authority on a Skills Framework for the HealthTech sector, mapping the occupational skills needed and the qualifications currently available and supporting the Combined Authority and the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education in developing a new, flexible Level 4 qualification for MedTech.
I would be happy to hear from any reader of this news with your questions and your suggestions on these vital issues.
CLUSTER’S EVENTS
May’s Topical Tuesday had to be postponed when the presenter became unavailable at short notice. In June, Topical Tuesday will be held at 4.15pm online on Tuesday 4th June and will feature a presentation about our new Kickstart service for start-ups, jointly with BEC. Register here now!
I chaired WMHTC’s latest Board meeting when we agreed to review our membership model and make changes to our website. The focus of the website changes will be to involve members in our work more directly, as well as to offer members more opportunities to promote their work and engage in B2B networking. We are taking into account members’ views as we develop this plan through a members’ forum.
After the success of the first meeting of the new industry-led HealthTech Land Insights Forum in April, the new Chair, CBRE’s Will Ventham and I have arranged to meet to discuss a work programme for the forum. Obviously, the focus will be on land availability for a growing HealthTech sector and we will seek to identify and address potential bottlenecks and obstacles.
Tech WM has a plan to launch a Tech Connect platform, which aims to provide a one-stop shop for providing guidance and signposting to tech businesses. I am in talks with CEO Yiannis Maos and the Tech Commissioner, Martin Ward, to link up the HealthTech sector to this platform. More on this later this year.
Following the success of April’s Skills Workshop, I was asked to speak at the Association of Colleges’ Annual Qualifications Conference in Dudley to give the HealthTech employers’ perspective on FE and HE education and training, the qualifications employers are looking for and how FE and He might collaborate more to provide flexible learning routes for businesses and their employees.
International Research Culture Conference
Taking place Monday 16th September at The University of Warwick, the International Research Culture Conference (IRCC) invites all those working in research to come together, to foster meaningful conversations and build an inclusive community of practice.
Registration and abstract submissions are now open. Work with us to co-create an exciting programme of activities. Click here to find out more.
AI Technologies for Health and Wellbeing
University of Warwick Annual Workshop in Digital Technologies
Friday 14 June 2024 – 09:30am – 4.00pm – In-person event only
Location: Space 17, Radcliffe Conference Centre, University of Warwick. Click here to find out more.
HEALTH TECHNOLOGIES SECTOR NEWS
How to Win Grants, Access Finance and Gain Investment
Short notice, I know, but the upcoming WMHTIA one-day workshop on How to Win Grants, Access Finance, Gain Investment and Make the Most of Funded Support. This is from 9 am – 4:30 pm on Tuesday 4th June at Millennium Point in Birmingham.
This comprehensive workshop is for you, if you:
- Are looking for grants, finance, investment or funded support
- Would like to know the best options for your business
- Want to know how to apply for and win grants, finance or investment
You will hear from the experts on how to find and win the grants, finance and investment you need to grow your business. Sessions include:
- Grants for Health and Life Sciences: Navigating the Labyrinth – Jon Williams from Granted Consultancy- a Ryan Company. Jon is a veteran in the field and has helped many companies to secure large grants.
- How to Get Ready to Access Finance and Attract Investment – Andy Kay, Corporate Finance Partner, and Julie Mole, Director of Debt Advisory, Crowe UK, a leading UK accountancy firm with a global network spanning over 130 countries
- Your Tactical Roadmap and Funding, Christian Kumar – Medilink Entrepreneur in Residence and CEO of Capital Kinetics
- Talk on Finding Early-Stage Investment by Plug and Play UK, which supports leading start-ups to scale through investment and partnerships.
- How to Access and Maximise the Grants, Innovation Funding and Support Available – Dr. Richard Fallon, CEO of the Technology Supply Chain. Richard has helped thousands of companies to benefit from grants and funded support.
- Raising Investment – Marco Morgado, a specialist in introducing investors to founders with rapid-growth businesses.
- The Right Lending for Your Business – Bobby Russell from Contact Business Finance- a specialist finance firm from Wolverhampton
You are invited to book your place using the this link here.
Rosalind Franklin Laboratory, Leamington Spa
Rosalind Franklin Laboratory is now essentially a fitted lab being managed by a letting agent. The tenant, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), has paid to break the lease early. Having dropped the Rosalind Franklin Laboratory, UKHSA is currently stripping the site of equipment, but leaving behind the infrastructure for a laboratory.
The agent has a lab representative – Mark Henry – who has been leading on that work. Since UKHSA have paid to break the lease, and the extra equipment will no longer be part of the deal, there’s less incentive for UKRI to continue any involvement in looking for a new research use for the lab.
Such a waste, and so short-sighted.
Netcom Training
Netcom Training, a leading West Midlands’ digital training provider, offers a range of free courses in partnership with West Midlands Combined Authority. These courses are designed to equip medical professionals with the latest tech skills, allowing you to thrive in an increasingly digital healthcare landscape.
Why Upskilling or Reskilling Matters
The medical sector is constantly evolving, and technology is playing a bigger role than ever before. From using electronic health records to navigating telehealth platforms, having a strong digital skillset is becoming essential. Upskilling or reskilling can help you:
- Improve Patient Care: Leverage technology to streamline processes, access patient data efficiently, and enhance communication for better patient outcomes.
- Boost Efficiency: Master digital tools to automate tasks, reduce errors, and free up valuable time for patient interaction.
- Stay Ahead of the Curve: Equip yourself with the latest tech expertise to adapt to new advancements and ensure you remain competitive in a dynamic field.
Netcom Training offers a comprehensive suite of courses relevant to the medical industry, including:
Cyber Security: Learn best practices to protect sensitive patient data and ensure healthcare systems remain secure.
Data Analysis: Gain insights from medical records to improve decision-making, resource allocation, and research endeavours.
IT Essentials: Master the fundamentals of computer hardware and software to navigate healthcare IT infrastructure effectively.
Social Media & Web Design: Understand how to utilise online platforms to enhance patient education, promote public health initiatives, and improve communication with patients and the community.
Coding Basics: Learn the building blocks of coding to customise software for specific medical needs or analyse complex datasets.
Intel AI Course: Explore the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare. Learn how AI can be used for medical imaging analysis, drug discovery, and even personalised patient care.
By taking advantage of free Netcom Training courses, you can not only enhance your current role but also unlock new career opportunities in the ever-evolving medical technology landscape.
Looking to Take the Next Step? Visit Netcom Training’s website at https://www.netcomtraining.co.uk/ or contact me and I can put you in touch to explore their course offerings and discuss how Netcom Training can help you achieve your digital career goals.
WEST MIDLANDS REGION NEWS
R&D Tax Credits
In April 2023 & 2024, HMRC made significant changes to the R&D tax relief scheme, with a view to cleaning up the entire process and ensure compliant submissions after years of complaints that abuse of the scheme was putting off businesses with legitimate claims.
The clean-up has led to all sorts of problems for organisations who have been genuinely utilising the scheme, which is intended to help them continue innovating and growing their businesses and also putting off new companies considering using it. Things like the need for a robust technical report that meets strict requirements, a new, specific process for submission and the most recent changes such as prenotification of claim and the merging of the previous schemes, will only see an increase in incorrect submissions leading to investigations – especially now HMRC will be checking 1 in 5 claims.
Failure to follow (and even when following) these changes can result in expensive, time-consuming disputes with HMRC, retrospective investigations and the possibility of not being able to submit for a period of time.
See this month’s Spotlight feature below for an offer of a free check for your business from cluster member RDS.
AI Adoption Accelerator for WM manufacturers
The AI Adoption Accelerator is delivered by AND Digital, in collaboration with TechWM. It is a free 12-week programme open to small and medium enterprise (SMEs) businesses who:
• Are based within, or relocating to, the West Midlands
• Are registered with companies house as operating in the manufacturing sector (SIC Code Section C)
• Have been trading for at least six months.
SMEs are enterprises which employ fewer than 250 persons and a turnover of less than €50 million or balance sheet total of less than €43 million. Each organisation can nominate up to three representatives (a single lead applicant plus two additional applicants) who will work as a team throughout the programme.
The Accelerator offers experience, mentorship, learning resources, networking and tools.
URGENT: you have to apply by midday on Friday 31 May 2024. Apply here.
The Lifted Project – boosting female entrepreneurship
Birmingham is one of five cities outside of London chosen to help kickstart budding female business owners. The Lifted Project wants to increase the number of female-founded high-growth enterprises by 50% within three years .
Now it has announced that Birmingham will have its own regional growth board to help entrepreneurs understand how to scale their ideas. The Birmingham board will be chaired by Tara Attfield-Tomes, who says the City has “a well-connected ecosystem” for early career business people, but “we’re still missing the coordination and influence needed to really create change”.
You can read the full news story here.
DBT Midlands
Colleagues at the Department of Business and Trade are offering three opportunities for businesses involved in, or thinking of getting involved in, exporting as follows:
- The practicalities and opportunities of fulfilling your European orders via the Netherlands – join international trade experts from the Netherlands and the UK who will provide helpful tips and guidance on how best to navigate the practical aspects of shipping your goods to customers in the Netherlands and wider EU markets: in-person at 23 Stephenson Street, Birmingham B2 4BJ on 05 June – see here to register.
- Opportunities across Eastern Europe and Central Asia – home to more than 370 million people with growing economies, young and dynamic populations and increasing demand for high quality British products; hear directly from exporters about their experience in the market and establish new business relationships: in-person at 23 Stephenson Street, Birmingham B2 4BJ on 12 June – see here to register.
- Made in the UK, Sold to the Indo Pacific, Meet the Experts – you can arrange 1 to 1 meetings with market and sector specialists for advice specifically tailored to your needs, find business opportunities and find the help you need to navigate the support available: in-person event at HSBC, 1 Centenary Square Birmingham B1 1HQ on 19 June – see here to register.
British Business Bank – Midlands Engine Investment Fund II
The Midlands Engine Investment Fund II will deliver £400 million of new funding to small and medium-sized businesses across the Midlands.
The fund aims to build on the success of the first Midlands Engine Investment Fund and will drive sustainable economic growth by supporting innovation and creating opportunities for new and growing businesses in the Midlands.
The Midlands Engine Investment Fund II offers a range of commercial finance options with debt finance from £25,000 to £2 million and equity investment up to £5 million. The fund covers the whole of Midlands, including the West Midlands, East Midlands and South East Midlands.
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Expansion of patient choice in the NHS
From August, patients requiring routine treatment outside of hospitals will be able to choose between multiple services across the NHS and independent sector, according to this news from the Department of Health and Social Care.
Services that could be offered under the expansion include endoscopy, nutrition and podiatry. NHS England will be engaging with integrated care boards (ICBs) with a view to launching pilots in local areas from the autumn. ICBs in areas across the country are expected to participate in some form. NHS England will also actively encourage ICBs to consider expanding the range of providers of services already covered by existing choice regulations, such as mental health.
Subject to the results of local pilots, the government and NHS intend to expand choice to many more areas of the country and many more services.
Smarter Regulation White Paper
The Department for Business and Trade has published a White Paper on its plans to reform regulation in the UK.
Reforms include:
- for the first time, defining what constitutes a regulator of business and introducing a ten guiding principles of smarter regulation that we expect these regulators to apply in their day-to-day decision making
- developing a ‘register of regulators’, as part of our ambition for a ‘one-stop-shop’ of regulatory information so that anyone can find out which regulators and regulations apply to their business
- launching a new Regulators Council to improve the strategic dialogue between regulators and government, alongside monitoring the effectiveness of policy and strategic guidance issued
- a new Share Once Support Register which will mean vulnerable customers only need to register with energy, telecoms and water companies once to access extra help with billing and in emergency situations
- a new Growth Duty Performance Framework to enhance transparency and accountability, by asking regulators to provide evidence on how they are supporting economic growth
A White Paper is normally a prelude to legislation but here, as we are so close to a General Election, it is uncertain whether these plans will be converted into law. I have personal experience of producing a Green Paper on Government policy months before an election – and seeing it disappear without trace because of the result of the election!
See this collections page for the relevant documents, the second one down, the pdf, has the full 84-page White Paper.
Cyber security in AI
The UK government has introduced two codes of practice to enhance cyber security in AI and software, boosting UK economy’s security and growth prospects.
New measures are aimed at developers and aim to establish a global standard for protecting AI models from hacking, helping businesses innovate and drive economic growth across the nation.
The launch of the new codes of practice coincides with new figures showing that the cyber security sector has grown 13% in the last year and is now worth almost £12 billion.
Spotlight on…
Cluster member RDS, part of the BSE Group, have been helping companies with R&D tax relief claims since 2017 and have successfully brought back over £55m in relief to over 1000 clients.
RDS specialise in taking the difficulty out of a scheme that is highly beneficial when utilised correctly but has ever increasing complexities. RDS have unrivalled credibility in the marketplace as they are backed by BGF, a leading UK/IRE PE firm who took as stake in the business in April 2022.
A huge part of the success RDS has seen comes from their strategic partnerships, and RDS look forward to working with the WMHTC and its cluster members to help drive innovation and growth in the HealthTech sector in the West Midlands.
I hope you enjoy reading my e-bulletin. Feel free to contact me personally with your feedback and suggestions for future activities at david@wmhtc.co.uk
Regards,
Executive Chair.
