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Date: Tuesday October 17th | Time: 09:00 – 16:00 | Location: The Exchange
Digital Skills Symposium
Narrowing the digital skills gap
Creating talent for a future world
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Speakers
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Victoria Pargetter-Garner
Assistant Director (Business Engagement & Research Impact)
![](https://birminghamtechweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/suzie.png)
Suzie Branch-Haddow
Vice Principal (External Development)
![](https://birminghamtechweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/reb-1.png)
Rebecca Riley
Associate Professor and Co-Director (Enterprise, Engagement and Impact)
![](https://birminghamtechweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Nicola.png)
Nicola Wilkins
Academic Director for Digital Education and Equity
![](https://birminghamtechweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/stephen.png)
Stephen Paterson
Chief of Tech Evolution & People
![](https://birminghamtechweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/rich.png)
Richard Bovey
Club Executive
![](https://birminghamtechweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/jake.png)
Jack Tasker
Business Engagement Partner
![](https://birminghamtechweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Martin-Ward.png)
Martin Ward
West Midlands Tech Commissioner
![](https://birminghamtechweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/tony.png)
Tony Randle
Partner & Head of Client Strategy
![](https://birminghamtechweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Miakela-1.png)
Mikayla Sinead
Community Manager
![](https://birminghamtechweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/monica.png)
Monica Todd
Product Principal
![](https://birminghamtechweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/stephanie.png)
Stephanie Burras
CEO
![](https://birminghamtechweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/hariett.png)
Harriet Perks
Academy and Onboarding Lead
![](https://birminghamtechweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/suneal.png)
Suneal Ram Kissun
Social Impact Partnerships Manager
![](https://birminghamtechweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/richard.png)
Richard Kuti
Inclusion Lead
![](https://birminghamtechweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Claire-Ross.png)
Claire Ross
Director of DE&I
Agenda
09:00-10:00 - Registration, refreshments and networking
An opportunity to network and speak with other tech leaders interested in digital skills
10:00-10:30 - Opening Remarks
Opening remarks from TechWM, UoB and AND Digital
10:30-11:15 - Setting the scene: What the data says about the regional skills gap, and what it means for your organisation
Reflections from last year’s Birmingham Tech Week and updates on the state of the digital skills space across the West Midlands.
11:15-11:30 - Coffee Break
Grab a coffee and have a chat
11:30-13:00 - PANEL: Why D&I strategies fail and what to do about it (including Q&A)
Recruiting and retaining digital talent with emphasis on direct experiences from discussants of fundamental reasons D&I strategies in recruitment fail and how to avoid those traps, and then how to ensure sustained commitment to D&I strategies once recruitment has been successful.
13:00-13:45 - Lunch and Networking
Opportunity to network over lunch and discuss digital skills with your peers
13:45-14:30 - Fireside chat on AI and the future of work
Discussion on the current digital skills challenges and what we can do to ensure the region is a digital talent hotspot
14:45-16:00 - Developing digital talent: Insights on learning and development
Hear practical insights on how organisations are rising to the challenge (and opportunities) of digital skills, covering spectrum of pipeline development through to re/up-skilling.