IN4.0 Group to lead tech hub The Landing at MediaCityUK

From left: Andy Beaden, Mo Isap, Paul Dennett and Debbie Brown

IN4.0 Group, led by entrepreneurs Mo Isap and Andy Beaden will accelerate the growth of digital and innovation services across the region after taking the helm at The Landing, at MediaCityUK.

The Landing has played a major role in establishing Greater Manchester as a world leading digital city-region, at the heart of Salford’s innovation district.

The business, which has offices at UCLan's Media Factory and MediaCityUK, plans to build on this great pedigree, by scaling a pioneering, inclusive eco-system to drive prosperity across the North.

The company has a proven track record in accelerating digital technology adoption within SMEs and larger businesses, and this expertise will further enhance the delivery of innovation excellence from the hub.

Working in partnership with Salford’s chief digital officer Jon Corner, IN4.0 will be creating a Connected Cities Innovation Lab with a specific focus on commercialising research and development, creating new applications for technology and making adoption more accessible and affordable for businesses.

The Group will be expanding business growth services provided by IN4.0 with The Landing across the North through a ‘hub and club’ membership model, further creating an inclusive and diverse eco-system.

A priority will be on supporting and boosting the number of female founders and entrepreneurs from minority backgrounds, with tailored programmes and mentorship that break the barriers to entry and accelerate their start-ups to scale, thus creating role models that will inspire a new, more diverse generation of tech pioneers.

Mo Isap CEO of IN4.0 Group, said: “Digital technology today is the backbone of all industries, regardless of the nature and type of business.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted many inequalities which we will be addressing head on.

“One of our primary objectives is to create the most diverse and inclusive innovation community.

“By doing this deliberately ensures that social value is on a par with economic value so that all citizens young and old in the region will have the opportunity to succeed and break new ground in our districts.

“This is an ambition we share unequivocally with Salford City Council.”

He continued: “MediaCityUK is a leading destination for the digital, tech and creative media industries - we will further augment this reputation to attract the best businesses and talent globally.

“It is our intention to be a major catalyst towards achieving Greater Manchester’s innovation ambitions and thus ensuring the UK leads in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.”

IN4.0’s blueprint for The Landing includes a pan-northern super angel seed investment fund.

The Group’s pedigree in technology training will also realise the vision for the IN4.0 Talent City at MediaCityUK, building on the existing relationships with regional universities including the University of Central Lancashire and the University of Salford, along with attracting the best private sector technology training providers to create a unique industry facing talent development campus.

This new partnership with Salford City Council marks an exciting next chapter for the IN4.0 Group which over the past two years has successfully delivered a number of their programmes at The Landing including IN4.0 Access, an industrial disruptive technologies accelerator and DEVA/hack, a creative digital hackathon with Salford youngsters to nurture the next generation of digital entrepreneurs.

Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett said: “Salford is a leading digital city and our ambitions continue as we provide an environment where nurtured local tech talent can flourish while creating jobs and growth in the local economy. We are very proud to be recognised nationally for our digital revolution.

“IN4.0 taking charge of The Landing is a positive step forward for this city. They will bring in their expertise and talent to help grow small and medium sized businesses with all the support they need under one roof at MediaCityUK.”

Debbie Brown, strategic director of Service Reform at Salford City Council, said: “We are experiencing significant digital transformation in Salford – a journey that ranges from working with high tech national companies based in the city to helping more than 8,000 of our most excluded residents to get online and transform their lives digitally.

“IN4.0 fit perfectly into our ambitions and will make sure that The Landing moves into a new and exciting phase. We look forward to working closely together and the successes that follow.”

Chairman of IN4.0 Group Andy Beaden said: “IN4.0 with The Landing will be driving innovation and collaboration through our shared vision to enable technology adoption, increasing productivity and growth across all sectors.

“We bring together some incredible partners respectively, such as BAE Systems, The IET, Vodafone, Barclays, UP Ventures and AWS to name a few. We will actively secure more partners to work with.

“The possibilities are incredible.

“The Landing also offers an amazing asset with Social 7, housing state of the art conferencing facilities, restaurant, lounge and private cinema. It will serve as an exciting destination, complimenting all of our activities.”