Productivity Programme

Conference Delivers Digital Skills for County Businesses

July 13, 2022

Lincolnshire businesses were given a digital masterclass at the University of Lincoln’s Doing it Differently conference yesterday (Tuesday).

Staged at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel in Lincoln by the University of Lincoln’s Productivity Programme, the event was hosted by BBC technology journalist Zoe Kleinman and featured renowned guest speakers and a digital playground showcasing agricultural robots, technology games, digital technology equipment; plus mobile phone augmented reality technology provided by Matthew Cox Ltd.

Key themes for the day were Digital Transformation Trends for 2022 and Beyond, Transforming your Customers’ Digital Journey and Creating a Fulfilled Digital Workforce.

Zoe Kleinman, the BBC’s first ever Technology Editor who facilitated the conference said: “I was delighted to host the event. I was excited to see how engaged delegates were in having conversations about digital transformation which plays an important role in helping to shape the future of the local economy. It has become the fabric of society.

“By March this year the Productivity Programme team reported that 218 Lincolnshire businesses have benefitted from business support activity and 27 businesses have accessed the Business Angels network, with an impressive £213,395 worth of funding provided by the end of March – and there are still grant funding opportunities available.”

Following a welcome by Professor Neal Juster, Vice Chancellor of the University of Lincoln, delegates heard from Steve Wells, founder of Informing choices Ltd, about digital transformation insights that help businesses make informed choices about the emerging future.

Steve commented: “I was thrilled to be invited to speak at the event which was designed around thinking about digital transformation for SMEs.

“As a futurist I am really interested in working through plausible scenarios for the future so that businesses and individuals can prepare themselves for whatever the future throws at them, and digital transformation plays a major role in that, but the critical element is how we translate the digital technologies and create very human responses.”

One of the delegates, Jane Smith, Managing Director of Jointine Products, said: “What a fantastic day it has been! It has opened my mind to a huge number of digital possibilities that I can take back to my business; plus I have forged some brilliant relationships during the day.

“I would highly recommend the Doing it Differently conference to anyone in the future, it was well worth it.”

Charlotte Kirton-Cook, Industry Marketing Manager at the University of Lincoln, said: “Following the success of the 2019 Doing It Differently conference we knew there was an appetite from the Greater Lincolnshire business community to learn about digital transformation, and how they can prepare for it and respond to it successfully.

“The event sold out very quickly and in order that we didn’t disappoint we extended it to an online live streaming event too so that everyone could join in the conversation.

“I’m pleased to say that we’ve taken our annual conference to another level this year, with internationally renowned speakers and a highly regarded host from the BBC.”

To find out more about how you can get involved with the Productivity Programme, visit: http://www.productivityprogramme.co.uk/ or by emailing: productivity@lincoln.ac.uk.

Download the Press Release

Notes for editors:

Notes to editors:

The Productivity Programme was launched following the success of the Innovation Programme delivered by the University of Lincoln, which has helped over 500 businesses through funding innovative ideas and practical advice.
The Productivity Programme was officially launched on 11^th September 2019 and is designed to enable SMEs to advance and develop their ambitions – driving levels of productivity and investment as well as collaborative engagement leading to new products, processes and services and creating exploiting new markets.
The programme is open to businesses previously supported by the Innovation Programme and new businesses.
The programme, which is led by the University of Lincoln and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) offers various strands of business support including proof of concept grants, productivity vouchers, graduate internships, business advice, a growth graduate enterprise programme and events.
The project has received funding from the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020. The Department for Communities and Local Government is the Managing Authority for European Regional Development Fund.
Established by the European Union, the European Regional Development Fund helps local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support innovation, businesses, create jobs and local community regenerations. For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/european-growth-funding.
To find out more about the Productivity Programme, follow its Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube feeds or visit: http://www.productivityprogramme.co.uk/
Zoe Kleinman is an experienced senior reporter covering business and technology news across BBC outlets. From cybersecurity and hacking to artificial intelligence and driverless cars, plus her experience reporting for BBC News on the COVID-19 pandemic, Zoe’s vast expertise and knowledge of all things tech is brought to life as a keynote speaker or conference host.
Steve Wells has previously worked as COO at Fast Future Publishing and Strategy Development Manager in Pfizer Inc.’s UK business where he worked across the C-suite to lead and facilitate the company’s strategic planning process.
Steve Wells is a co-editor and a contributing author to Aftershocks and Opportunities 2 – Navigating the Next Horizon, Aftershocks and Opportunities – Scenarios for a Post-Pandemic World, Opportunity at the Edge – Change, Challenge, and Transformation on the Path to 2025, A Very Human Future – Enriching Humanity in a Digitized World, The Future Reinvented – Reimagining Life, Society, and Business, Beyond Genuine Stupidity – Ensuring AI Serves Humanity, and The Future of Business.