Lancaster to host UK Tech Week workshop

The county will play its part in the forthcoming UK Tech Week by hosting an event at Lancaster's Fraser House.

Local efforts to join the national campaign have been orchestrated by Innovate Lancashire, Lancashire County Council’s innovation-led economic growth programme.

UK Tech Week is a new initiative which aims to shine a spotlight on the tech innovation, expertise and talent that exist around the UK. It will commence with a national launch event on Monday 22nd April, followed by a three-day collaborative celebration of tech - featuring special events and festivals hosted across the country between 23rd and 25th April.

Lancashire’s involvement will be centred on a special Tech Talk on Thursday April 25th. The free lunchtime masterclass will focus on the significant role that ‘sweat equity’ can play to help grow a fledging technology business.

Sweat equity is generally defined as a contribution toward a commercial venture or project which is not financial. Instead, value is derived from the expertise, advice and time which founders, other individuals, or other companies, invest in the business at the pre-finance stage in return for some form of future equity.

The Fraser House event – entitled Exploring Sweat Equity Routes to Market - will be hosted by Lancaster-based tech startup Adirani Digital Solutions. 

Speakers will include Judy Leung, founder of the sweat equity connector platform Sweqlink. Sweqlink is a sweat equity-based talent matchmaking service which helps founders and early-stage companies wanting to build an expert team connect with individuals who have complementary skills, similar interests, or shared goals. 

Judy will be joined by James Brookes, head of projects at TheStartupFactory.tech (TSF).

Rory Southworth, innovation ecosystem manager at Innovate Lancashire, said: "I’m proud that the Fraser House Hub will be hosting an event as part of the inaugural UK Tech Week on behalf of Lancashire. As well as exploring the challenges and opportunities offered by sweat equity through our expert session at Fraser House on April 25th, we will be using our participation in this week-long initiative to highlight the thriving tech and innovation ecosystem which is helping to drive economic growth across the whole of Lancashire."