Birmingham is to host a week-of digital events this week exploring how technology can help increase efficiency and reduce cost in the delivery of public services, as well as helping small and medium enterprises grow and become more profitable.
Hello Digital week, organised by Digital Birmingham runs from October 18-22, a time when all eyes will be on the public sector with the announcement of the public spending review due on October 20.
The week’s two key events are the Beyond 2010 conference at the International Convention Centre on Wednesday 20th and Thursday 21st October, and the Hello Business conference held over Thursday 21st and Friday 22nd October at the Custard Factory and the International Convention Centre.
Attracting an international audience with delegates already booked from Europe and Africa, Beyond 2010 will explore how public service organisations can provide more for less through digital innovations, delivering better, more efficient and sustainable public services in a time of increasing austerity.
The conference will be addressed by leading names including Charles Leadbeater, former No 10 policy advisor, Richard Allen, director of policy EU for Facebook, John Suffolk, Chief Information Officer for HM Government and Professor Richard Shadbolt, the Government Transparency and Open Data Advisor.
Beyond 2010 will also incorporate a live ‘follow the sun’ programme on day 2 with link ups with partner cities Edmonton (Canada), Seoul (South Korea) and Sydney (Australia), showing how these pioneering digital cities embrace smart solutions in the delivery of public services and business opportunities.
The Hello Business conference is now in its third successful year and looks set to attract business delegates from across the SME and creative sectors. Day one of the conference comes from The Custard Factory in Digbeth and will focus on creative businesses with speakers including Julie Meyer from BBC Online Dragons’ Den and David Burden from digital worlds specialist Daden .
Day two will be at the International Convention Centre and feature presentations and workshops aimed at showing SMEs how they can utilise digital technologies to boost business. The conference will be addressed by Neelie Kroes, EU commissioner for the digital agenda, proving yet again the power of the Hello Digital brand to attract the industry’s big name commentators.
To find out more about Beyond 2010, Hello Business and other events taking place in Birmingham during Hello Digital week, visit www.hellodigital.net.
ENDS
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Notes to editors
Digital Birmingham is a Birmingham City Council initiative and a strategic partnership of private, voluntary and public organisations throughout the city. It is establishing Birmingham as a leading European digital city to ensure that the benefits of digital technologies are available to all in the city. For more information visit www.digitalbirmingham.co.uk.
Hello Digital has been created to support and celebrate Birmingham’s investment in digital technologies as a route to generating economic growth, closing the digital divide and promoting greater social inclusion. An innovative partnership between Birmingham City Council, Digital Birmingham, Say Hello, Screen WM, Arts Council England West Midlands, Business Link WM and Marketing Birmingham, it will acknowledge Birmingham as a leading digital city, populated by skilled citizens and businesses fully engaged with technology and committed to reinforcing the city’s reputation as a centre for investment and business growth, as well as a great place to live, learn and work.
Birmingham’s Hello Digital Week runs from 18 – 22 October 2010 and comprises a number of events celebrating the city’s and the region’s technological achievements against the best in the world. Hello Digital Week will open up the debate on the impact of technologies across the broadest cross section of industries, and provide a platform to build links and share digital best practice, ideas and opportunities on an international level. For more information visit www.hellodigital.net.
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