Following the West of England Mayoral Hustings last Monday, techSPARK CEO Ben Shorrock invited a trusted group of community members to the Engine Shed for a roundtable discussion. The session offered an opportunity for the group to reflect on the candidates’ positions on key regional issues, including investment in the tech sector, improvements to local transport infrastructure and skills development for current and future generations.

Understanding The Tech Sector 

The discussion started with the group talking about the need for each of the candidates to grow their understanding of the local business landscape. They suggested that a way to achieve this could be for the elected candidate to visit local businesses across the region to gain firsthand knowledge of the challenges facing the sector and identify opportunities for growth.

It was felt that this knowledge would enable the elected candidate to provide more specific details on how they plan to support businesses at various levels within the sector – startups, SMEs and larger enterprises – as the candidates only spoke broadly about economic growth at The Hustings.

It was then emphasised that there is a need for strategies to attract private investment in infrastructure and employment to ensure the region remains competitive and business-friendly.

The First 100 Days

The group then deliberated how the tech community could support the elected candidate. They suggested creating a 100-day agenda for the new mayor, outlining key priorities for the region’s tech industry and how these initiatives could drive an immediate positive impact. It was agreed that the first 100 days would be crucial for setting the tone and demonstrating the new mayor’s commitment to their campaign promises.

Ben and the group also spoke about the need to use the first 100 days to build relationships with key regional and national figures to ensure that the region’s needs are well-represented at a broader governmental level.

They also talked about how the new mayor could draw upon successful strategies implemented in other regions, such as Manchester’s approach under Andy Burnham, to gain insights into effective governance and public engagement.

Collaboration with Other Mayoral Authorities

The conversation then pivoted to how the new mayor would work with other authorities. They recommended that the elected candidate collaborate with different levels of government – local, regional and national – to tackle challenges currently facing the region, such as infrastructure development, public transport and housing.

The group mentioned that developing strong relationships with other mayoral authorities would allow the elected candidate and other regional mayors to share best practices and implement successful policies across the UK. The collaboration between Greater Manchester and West Midlands was highlighted as an example of how mayors can come together to build effective partnerships.

Additionally, the group spoke about the need for clearer communication from both the mayor and the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority (WEMCA) about their roles and ongoing projects to ensure that businesses and residents are well-informed about regional initiatives and how they can contribute.

Post-Election Engagement & Future Opportunities

Another key theme the group explored was how the new mayor might engage with the community once elected. They suggested holding a follow-up Hustings event that would provide an opportunity for the elected candidate to outline their priorities for the region’s tech sector now that they have taken up the role.

Beyond outlining their priorities, the follow-up Hustings could also kickstart a broader communication strategy between the mayor, WEMCA and local businesses. 

They also suggested that the new mayor could potentially speak at the upcoming Bath Digital Festival. The group felt that this would provide an opportunity to engage with local businesses, stakeholders and the broader tech community. This could help the mayor build connections within the tech sector and outline their vision for innovation, infrastructure and investment across the region.

If you missed the event last week, you can read our write up to learn about each candidate’s vision for the sector. As part of the event, we also launched our manifesto, which outlines eight key asks from the tech community for the incoming West of England Mayor. You can read the full manifesto here.

Thanks again to our partners RWK Goodman for sponsoring The Hustings event last week.

Will Humphrey