Digital Upscaler Awareness Sessions

Do you have:

• A Digital Advantage – Are you already using digital technologies to drive growth or are open to exploring how they can benefit your business?
• A Strong Vision – Are your people involved in and can they understand how they contribute towards the success and future of the business by embracing digital technology? Can they see personal development potential through strategic change?
• A Solid Team – Does your management team share a desire for growth? Do they embrace challenges and empower teams to provide solutions and innovation? Are they aware of their team’s capabilities and seek external support where needed?
• A Documented Approach to Process – Can your business demonstrate consistent delivery of product and project? Do you maintain clear and accessible, value-driven processes? Investment in growth Does your business have the reserves and appetite to invest in growth. Do you invest in both technology and people? Do you make the most of research and development opportunities?

  If you have any of the above and want support and advice on how to move your growth plans forward, then this event is for you!

Who should attend this awareness event?

SMEs that have experienced barriers to growth through lack of expertise in new technologies, staff resources or finance, or if you are a business already embracing digital technologies and want to take the next step to scale-up

This event is open to eligible SMEs located in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire.

What will the session cover?

• Overview of Digital Upscaler
• Eligibility
• Adviser-led support available
• Grant opportunity
• How to enrol

Who’ll be presenting this event?

This awareness session is delivered by the Chamber’s Digital Upscaler Technology Adviser, David Dobson.

There will also be a guest speaking slot from Dr Ismini Vasileiou covering:

• Innovation which is at the heart of the East Midlands Cyber Cluster, increasing cyber awareness and protection for SME’s in the region
• The changing Digital Skills landscape for businesses to access talent with digital skills
• New digital skills courses being delivered by educators in the East Midlands

David Dobson – Digital Technology Adviser

David began his professional journey in IT support, as a certified Systems Engineer (Microsoft, Novell and Dell) and rapidly progressed into senior IT and project management roles. Over the last 20 years he’s been successfully working as a self-employed IT/Business Consultant, providing bespoke creative solutions to businesses throughout our region. But his talents don’t end there; as a certified Robbins-Madanes Life/Business Coach, he also brings a level of mindfulness and understanding around the needs of clients making use of these digital solutions.

Dr Ismini Vasileiou

Dr Ismini Vasileiou is an Associate Professor in Information Systems at De Montfort University and Associate Head (Teaching and Learning) at the School of Computer Science and Informatics. Dr Vasileiou enjoys working with employers to create courses that give learners the outcomes that employers need for their business. Dr Vasileiou has extensive leadership experience in the discipline of Computer Science and its related fields, from developing new courses at strategic level to managing and implementing the Degree Apprenticeships portfolio.

Dr. Vasileiou’s research interests include Social Engineering, Security Education, Learning Analytics and Technology-supported Learning. Dr Vasileiou is regularly invited to deliver keynote presentations in relation to topics of Digital Transformation in Higher Education, Social Engineering and Cyber Education.