Seven Hills Associate Director, Matic Boh reflects on London Tech Week, with insights on the future of UK innovation.
The dust has just about settled after London Tech Week, and it’s safe to say that the 10th edition of the festival was the biggest and best yet.
As a firm we’ve been closely involved with the festival for a number of years, and it was brilliant to see the 10th anniversary of the event deliver such a high profile celebration of the UK tech industry.
From the Prime Minister and the Mayor of London kicking things off on the Monday, all the way through a range of fringe events (covering everything from cyber, to quantum and the metaverse), the AI Summit, ClimateTech discussions and a huge delegation of international arrivals to the Capital, the city showcased a vibrant and dynamic tech ecosystem – full of innovation, growth opportunities and new connections.
As in years past, we were delighted to support Tech London Advocates as a Founding Partner of the Week, ensuring that Russ Shaw CBE, was at the heart of the media discussions, covering the significance of the week and the wider issues dominating the tech agenda – including AI regulation.
Similarly, with the spotlight on the sector, we helped to position Andrew Roughan, CEO of Plexal, as a leading commentator on the AI agenda and how the government can best work with industry to safely deploy this emerging technology – securing him an interview on BBC Business Live to discuss London Tech Week.
We were also heavily involved in the future of work agenda, with client Ashley Ramrachia, Co-Founder and CEO of Academy, at the heart of the tech sector with coverage in the Guardian ahead of LTW. As a moderator for a panel about how recruitment is transforming for the better, he entered the stage directly after Education Secretary Gillian Keegan spoke to a packed room.
Michael Paterson, CTO of Beamery, was another of the must-see speakers of the week, with coverage in UKTN ahead of his panel about maintaining culture in a digital work revolution and engaging workers in an age of remote working.
It’s become apparent that across the ecosystem, there are aligning priorities on how the UK can solidify its position as a tech and science superpower, and how a focus on talent, investment, policy and regulation, and international connectivity can help deliver that.
A real highlight of the week was our involvement in Antler’s inaugural European Founder Conference, which showcased some of the most promising and inspiring tech entrepreneurs of the new generation, plus offered a deep dive into the macro investment trends shaping the tech industry in the UK, and indeed globally.
London Tech Week 2023 was without a doubt a marquee moment for UK tech. Having had the chance to attend quite a few events and engage with many international delegates that made the trip over, it’s clear that London has a hugely respected position as a global tech hub and a strong reputation as a place where innovative ideas are embraced and can grow.
The road ahead is overwhelmingly positive, and we should feel energised about the next 10 years of UK tech growth.