Minutes of LEP High-Tech Sector Group

15th January 2013, 09:00am

OsbourneClarke Offices, Temple Back East

Present: Mike Bartley, Rick Chapman, Rodger Sykes, Steve Penaluna, Matthew Cross, Alastair Watson, Janice Malschuk, Emily Jones, Nick Flaherty

Introductions – Matthew Cross introduced himself to the group. Only 3 days in post as Interim Head of Inward Investment. Will be appointing Sector ‘Animateurs’ as soon as possible – one to be assigned to High-Tech sector. Has £60k to spend on developing marketing collateral for WoE area.

  1. Actions
  • Ongoing

-Duncan’s slides from last meeting – not received

-Duncan to send requests for endorsements for DTC – open

-Mike to request LEP endorsement for DTC – waiting for Duncan’s response

-Organise SIG meeting with help from Cambridge (Henry) – pending

-Website - Nick to progress on images; Alastair/Nick to circulate copy for comment

  • New

-AlastairW to talk to Bruce Beckloff at UKTI about possible involvement in Cluster Mapping project, and to obtain more information from Trampoline Systems about costings.

-NickF to approach relevant agencies to investigate how we could become involved in the Bristol shop window display at train stations, airports etc

-NickF to collate mailing list and produce bi-monthly newsletter – 1 or 2 pages

-RickC to ask Simon Bond for a slot at Silicon South West on 1 March, MikeB and NickSto attend

-NickF to summarise Media Week agenda for use by group

-MikeB to give group something to announce re Media Week

-All to look at the Lectures / Distinguished Address events at UWEas they have good speakers

-NickF to chase MattC for ‘Animateurs’ candidates and status

-NickF to ask Rupert if he still wants to be involved in group

-NickF to contact Mark Lippet at Xmosto see if they want to join the group.

-All to bring suggestions for other volunteer members to next meeting for discussion

-NickF to progress design and purchase of pop-up banner

-MikeB to ask HenryNto arrange a date for Soroya’s visit.

  1. Review of Actions from Last Meeting
  • Overview project plan and funding proposal for cluster mapping – completed, awaiting decision
  • Funding proposal for stimulating SIGs – completed, awaiting decision
  • Send anecdotes on need for high-speed broadband - closed
  • Duncan’s slides from last meeting – not received
  • Duncan to send requests for endorsements for DTC – open
  • Mike to request LEP endorsement for DTC – waiting for Duncan’s response
  • Organise SIG meeting with help from Cambridge (Henry) – pending
  • Organise future meetings – completed
  • Rick and Nick to design stand for LEP conference – completed
  • Alastair to arrange for Janice to be on stand at LEP conf – completed
  • Alastair and Nick to work on LEP High-Tech website content – had meeting, and some copy produced. Need for image(s). Nick to progress on images; Alastair/Nick to circulate copy for comment
  1. Update on LEP Funding Programmes – Steven Penaluna
  • Core Funding - £250k approved, £125k of which allocated for Sector Group Projects

-LEP Board inundated with bids from sector groups (numbers and value)

-Could not do initial assessment before Christmas as too many to consider

-Will be assessed (against LEP Board priority list) in Jan in time for LEP Executive meeting on 8th Feb – should be approved on this date

-Will be sent to BIS by 15th Feb as part of funding process

-BIS to approve funding

-Money should be available by beginning of April 2013

  • Economic Growth Fund - £250m for this year from Round 3 of RGF bid

-Anthony Corfield administering this programme for LEP

-BIS to sign off on April 19. Will be a WoELEP formal launch for bids after this date

-No match funding required

-Must satisfy Benefit Cost Ratio – safeguarding/increasing private sector employment (can include supply-chain jobs)

-For capital of patents

-Project must not be underway – will require evidence that this is the case

  1. Mike: Notes from Sector Group Chairs meeting in December
  • Mike updated the meeting on relevant points from the meeting
  • Broadband

-Work is on-going to improve Broadband

-LEP need businesses in the region to continue highlighting that poor quality is restricting growth

-A letter is being sent to the government stating what is required where

-Investigating the impact of EE locally

-It is thought that the Mayor of Bristol is asking all hotels in the City to provide free WiFi

  1. Alastair: Update on the 2 funding applications
  • Cluster Mapping Bid

-Submitted

-Trampoline Systems developed the Cambridge Cluster Map.

-Keen to assist us, however their system costs £60k and they have implied they would charge us the same.

-The view of the previous meeting was that we should keep the development work local if possible.

-As several Sector groups were potentially interested in using the cluster system, could they negotiate a deal as a group.

-ACTION – AW to talk to Bruce Beckloff at UKTI about possible involvement too, and to obtain more information from Trampoline Systems about costings.

-SP confirmed that it was thought of as’ interesting bid’ as it had potential to be rolled out elsewhere

  • SIG Bid

-No News

  1. Nick F: Report from the LEP conference in December
  • Notes from NickF had been circulated prior to the meeting
  • Most common question was how can individuals get involved with the group.
  • Suggestions discussed;

-Open meeting in Bath tied in with Silicon Southwest

-Agreed to keep focus to embedded systems

-Perhaps SCB / IET / BCS could hold a ‘come along’ event at the Bristol & Bath Science Park

-Next Silicon Southwest event is the morning of Friday 1 March at Bath – could do something in the afternoon

-Create a physical showcase which could be put in public spaces, e.g.; New Engine Shed, revamped Temple Meads, Bristol Airport – All of which are proposed ‘shop fronts’ for Bristol.

-NickF to approach relevant agencies to investigate how we could become involved

-StevenP suggested speaking to the Enterprise Development Team, Alan Owen or Ian McDougal (Future City)

-Any displays created for the ‘MShed 30 years of the Transputer’ display could be moved to one of these other shop front locations.

-Become involved in some way with the new stadium development and Docks expansion as these projects would both be using leading edge technology.

  • Comms to Sector

-Agreed to produce bi-monthly newsletter – 1 or 2 pages

-NickF to write and own mailing list

-Target audience is internal related hi-tech businesses and should show what the LEP is doing for them

-‘Sign up’ to be advertise on SCB and SSW newsletters

  • Website

-NickF and Alastair W are working on the content and will upload as soon as possible, it is all controlled by an external agency which may have some impact on timings

-Still require some relevant pictures, agreed a collage of technology images would be good.

  • Agreed to use LinkedIn group more.

7.Events

  • Friday 1 March is the Bath Silicon South West event
  • MikeB and NickS will be attending and will look to do a 10 minute slot.
  • RickC to ask Simon Bond for a slot before lunch
  • MikeB is at the Watershed with the Creative sector as part of Media Week on the afternoon of Friday 1 March

8.Mike: “Intelligent Media” update

  • Media week is running week ending Friday 1 Feb.
  • MikeB looking at how it can appeal to the tech sector
  • MikeB to give group something to announce
  • Agenda for the week is on the relevant websites – see embedded links
  • NickF to summarise agenda for use by group

9.Mike: High-Tech Dining Club

  • All agreed to setting up a series of dinners aimed at Hi-Tech leaders

-Believe the right people are keen to come.

-Possible format; Have 1 Named Speaker, Invite Only, 6:30 for 7pm start, 3 or 4 per year, 20 – 40 people depending on format, discussion vs presentation

-Objectives to be defined and audience managed appropriately

-Sir Hussain or Hermann Hauser – possible speakers, local speakers to be included too

-Venues should showcase Bristol & Bath, perhaps Hotel duVin, Goldbrick house, Passenger Shed, BBSP

-To be named ‘Bristol & Bath Hi-Tech Diners Club’

-Objectives:

  • New opportunities for B&B leaders
  • Relevant business & technical insights
  • Strengthen the Bristol clusterto foster relationships

-Follow up quotes to be put in newsletter

-Suggested that all look at the Lectures / Distinguished Address events at UWE, they have good speakers

-SCB are setting up similar events with BBSP

10.Henry: SIG update

  • Soroya Jones from Cambridge Wireless will attend a meeting when able and discuss what has previously worked well in SIG’s and why.

Meet the Team - Soroya Jones

11.Update on Sector Group Advisor appointments

  • Roles are to be called ‘Animateurs’. Individuals have been identified for some sectors, but not all.
  • NickF to chase MattC for candidates and status

12.Duncan: Update on bristol/bath DTC in microelectronics

  • None

13. Celebration of 30 years of the transputer and MShed (Bristol Industrial Museum)

14. AOB

  • Meeting dates in Bath booked
  • Review of current attendee list carried out and list amended

-Suggestions for other individuals to be invited

-NickF to ask Rupert if he still wants to be involved

-NickF to contact Mark Lippet at Xmos . They are currently a small organisation moving to a mid size. They would be able to show what their barriers to growth are.

-Any other suggestions for volunteer members are to be brought to next meeting for discussion

  • Agreed to purchase of a Pop Up banner

-NickFRickC to sponsor

-Artwork to be agreed

-NickF to progress

  • Next Meeting – 19th Feb – themed meeting (not general update)

-Priority topic is SIGs

-Only those interested in topic need attend

-MikeB to ask HenryN if he can get a date for Soroya’s visit. If we can happy to rearrange meeting date to accommodate. If not, topic will be both the Bids.

Note: All future meeting times to be 9:30am– 12.00 noon