The future of tech in Bristol

It is infiltrating every sector – from construction to care – and contributes more than £1.5bn to Bristol’s economy.

As tech moves to the forefront of the business, social and environmental spheres, it also poses an opportunity to level the playing field, to shift from ‘a white man’s world’ to an exciting, diverse and representative society.

This, says Marina Traversari, programme manager at Oracle’s Startup Cloud Accelerator (OSCA) in Bristol, is a move that will boost productivity, profitability and make companies stand out from the crowd.

Marina Traversai Bristol Programme Manager Oracle Startup Cloud Accelerator

The city is already recognised as being a front runner in the tech field, and overtook London to be awarded the title of the UK’s smartest city in late 2017, gaining praise for innovation, use of digital technology and community engagement.

Property experts believe digital innovation can help solve housing shortages by accelerating delivery and will help transform how the built environment is designed, delivered and managed in the future.

Yet, despite this weight being placed on the sector, women account for only 16 per cent of the tech workforce and BAME talent is under-represented – a fact that hits home with the most diverse companies outperforming the average by 33 per cent, according to a recent report from McKinsey.

It is therefore the pioneering projects to improve diversity in the sector that could really set Bristol apart.

One such initiative is the SHIFT programme that launched in March with the intention of amplifying the voices of underrepresented individuals through a free course that provides them with the skills and backing required to become the tech conference speakers, board members and mentors of the future.

The SHIFT programme is helping to shape the tech pioneers of the future

TechSPARK, the digital tech network for the South West, has designed the programme and managing director Ben Shorrock said: “With various studies citing the positive impact of diversity on the economy, the programme aims to support the region’s digital tech cluster, which already contributes over £1.5bn to the local economy.”

The course, which is backed by Engine Shed, UWE Bristol, specialist recruitment agency, Thatchers, and others, follows the successful launch of OSCA in early 2017 and applications are now open for the second cohort of startups keen to have access to tools to help them grow and prosper.

Traversari said: “Diversity within the tech industry is a valuable commodity as it helps produce new ways of thinking and operating.

“Here at OSCA, we’re proud to create an environment that empowers people and companies to be the best they can be. As the tech sector itself becomes more diverse, there will be more and more role models for young men and women to aspire to.”

One of the five startups selected to leverage Oracle’s next generation program in 2017 is Interactive Scientific, a small but growing company used in more than 100 schools nationwide that uses the digital experience to unlock the learning and understanding of science.

Founded by Becky Sage, winner of the ‘InFocus Women in Innovation’ award, the startup has also increased the visibility of women leaders in tech.

SETSquared Bristol launched a BAME diversity and inclusion project earlier this year

The latest Tech South West annual survey recognises that the region as a whole is emerging as a hotbed of talent and opportunity, with artificial intelligence the top predicted trend for this year.

While the outlook is optimistic in technology, Toby Parkins, chairman of Tech South West, says it could be even better, citing a lack of home-grown talent as one factor holding the sector back.

“We need to do more to encourage people with the skills to come here, and for more school, college and university leavers with the right skills to progress into the sector. There are exciting tech careers available with companies across the region.”

While the big players work out how digital innovation fits into their business, it is the organisations working away in places like the Engine Shed that are quietly shaping the future.

Main photo by Jon Craig.

Read more: SETSquared Bristol launches BAME diversity and inclusion project