TechWM strengthens West Midlands tech sector with 4 new patron appointments

TechWM, the organisation spearheading the growth of the West Midlands tech sector, has reinforced its regional partnerships with the appointment of four new patrons: Rigby Group, SCC, Haatch, and Midven.

These prominent organisations have been welcomed on board to help drive TechWM’s ambition of positioning the West Midlands as a global tech superpower by 2030. Each patron brings valuable expertise and business insights, offering support to the region’s tech ecosystem by enhancing investment opportunities, fostering innovation, and connecting startups with industry leaders.

As two of the region’s largest employers, Rigby Group and its flagship IT services company, SCC, aim to elevate the West Midlands’ tech sector to new heights, focusing on bridging the skills gap and driving forward innovation. Their involvement will create greater opportunities for the 144,000 people currently employed in the local tech industry, ensuring continued growth and evolution within this thriving sector.

Haatch and Midven, which are part of Future Planet Capital, join as patrons with a mission to boost the investment landscape for tech startups in the West Midlands. With the region’s tech sector valued at £15.3 billion, their patronage will play a key role in sustaining the rapid growth and investment flow, particularly for startups seeking to scale their operations.

As part of their patronage, Rigby Group, SCC, Haatch, and Midven are powering the One to Win competition in collaboration with TechWM. Launched during London Tech Week, the competition offers a £1 million prize to accelerate the next generation of tech businesses in the West Midlands. Backed by an influential group of investors, stakeholders, and tech leaders, One to Win further solidifies the West Midlands’ status as a dynamic, emerging tech hub.

Yiannis Maos MBE, Founder and CEO, TechWM, said: “These partnerships will be transformational for both TechWM as an organisation and the West Midlands as a region, allowing us to turbo-charge the support we can offer our tech startups and scaleups. We know that the West Midlands is one of the best places to start a tech business – the 2,797 new tech companies founded in the last year alone makes that abundantly clear. However, we want to ensure that it’s also the best place to scale a tech business; in turn bolstering the regional economy, creating new job opportunities, and cementing the region’s reputation as a global tech superpower.

“By being able to tap into the expertise of our patrons – all of whom have themselves grown massively in the West Midlands – TechWM hopes that the businesses in our ecosystem can scale even more quickly and sustainably than before.”

Even for those who do not meet the competition criteria, One to Win presents a unique opportunity. Tech startups that enter but are ineligible to compete will still benefit from accelerator guidance, networking opportunities, and access to workshops and mentorships, all as part of the programme.

With less than two weeks until the entry deadline, TechWM is encouraging tech businesses across the region to seize this opportunity and take the next steps in their growth journey.