News

Only a third of small business leaders have a basic understanding of AI

British Business Bank, a Tech South West Funding & Finance partner, has released new research revealing significant gaps in AI adoption among small businesses.

60% of medium-sized enterprises use AI tools but this drops to 36% using the technology in micro businesses
Medium sized businesses more than twice as likely to be paying for access to AI tools, as only 23% of micro

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the St Louis blues team in front of the NHL cup on the ice, with their fans behind them

Totnes tech firm helps top NHL team engage with fans

The Devon-based tech firm that creates fan engagement apps - Filmily - is working with an American hockey team.

St Louis Blues’s fans will get access to the Filmily app, which will allow them to create Commemorative Tickets or a virtual keepsake with a photo. They will also be able to choose what seat they would like to be in - no matter where in the world they are if they cannot...

Green light for Bristol Airport’s controversial expansion plans

Bristol Airport’s expansion plans have been granted on appeal by the government after being refused permission by the local council.

It will see the airport increase its current capacity from 10 million to 12 million passengers per year, the BBC reports .

David Lees, the airport's chief executive, welcomed the decision by the Planning Inspectorate.

He said: "The...

Hiyield release their top 5 startups to watch in 2022

With Hiyield ’s previous episode getting 10,000+ views, they are back in 2022 with another episode of Top 5 tech startups to watch.

In the UK alone, £26bn was invested in UK tech, up 2.3x from last year’s figures . And what’s really exciting, is that there is a fantastic mix of tech startups across all sectors. Some that are delivering brand new ideas, or others that are going head-...

South West "closing economic gap" on London, EY report finds

The South West has been named as one of only two regions in England that will narrow the economic gap on London by 2025.

While the pandemic has helped to narrow the UK’s regional economic divide, the gap between London and the rest of the country is set to grow again during the recovery in all regions except the South West and East Midlands, according to a new report by the...

Ultrafast broadband provider supports esports award

Exeter-based broadband company Jurassic Fibre have announced they are supporting the 2022 Exeter College Student Awards by sponsoring the Esports Academy Student of the Year category.

The Devon-based firm, which supports the rollout of fibre-to-the-premise (FTTP) broadband in rural areas, is also a sponsor of the South West's first region-wide esports tournament, delivered by Exeter...

With agriculture is becoming increasingly tech-focussed, digital skills are increasingly important

Lack of agri-tech knowledge 'holding farmers back'

A lack of knowledge is holding many farmers back from investing in new agricultural technology, according to a new survey by NFU Mutual .

Lack of access to finance was the second highest reason limiting respondents (30%), followed by uncertainty about the future (17%) and supply chain difficulties (7%).

Agriculture in the South West accounts for over £4bn of the region's...