Search Site

Start time: 10 am

End time: 10:15 am

(15 minutes)

Activity: Arrival & refreshments

Start time: 10:15 am

End time: 10:20 am

(5 minutes)

Item 1| Welcome, Housekeeping & Introductions

Speaker: Nathan March – Senior Business Partnership Manager - University ecosystem partnerships

• Housekeeping and brief overview of the event and speakers.

Start time: 10:20 am

End time: 10:25 am

(5 minutes)

Item 2| FSB - How they can support the local area / SME Support Available

Speaker: Charlie Smith - Business Advisor, Federation of Small Businesses

Start time: 10:25 am

End time: 10:30 am

(5 minutes)

Item 3| AI business support at the South Midlands Growth Hub

Speaker: Sam Hunter – Partnerships and Events Manager, SEM Growth Hub

• An introduction to the fully funded business support you can access at the Growth Hub.

• Take advantage of our AI expert in residence programme to learn how your business could become more efficient with the use of the latest AI technologies.

Start time: 10:30 am

End time: 10:40 am

(10 minutes)

Item 4 | Northamptonshire Chamber’s Support Available

Speaker: Sunny Singh, Group Commercial Director [TBC]

Start time: 10:40 am

End time: 10:50 am

(10 minutes)

Item 5 | Midlands Engine Investment Fund II

Speaker: Amrit Sami – Investment Associate, Mercia Ventures

Start time: 10:50 am

End time: 11 am

(10 minutes)

Item 6 | Support for innovative businesses

Speaker: Tom Graver – Project Manager, Innovate UK

Start time: 11 am

End time: 11:45 am

(45 minutes)

Item 7 | AI Integration

Speakers: Edward Braund - Head of School of Computer Science and Technology, University of Bedfordshire

Muhammad Habib Ur Rehman - Senior Lecturer in Computer Science School of Computer Science and Technology, University of Bedfordshire

• Updates on AI Ecosystem (Data, Technologies, Solutions)

• AI Opportunities: Improving customer experience, decision-making, and productivity

• AI for Innovation: Leveraging AI for smarter business processes

• Ethical AI: Overcoming challenges like security, compliance, and legacy systems

Start time: 11:45 am

End time: 12 pm

(15 minutes)

Item 8 | Q & A

Start time: 12 pm

End time: 1 pm

(1h)

Activity: Networking & Refreshments

(Prayer facilities available)

Start time: 1 pm

End time: 2 pm

(1h)

2x 25 min slots (repeated content)

Item 10 | Breakout sessions

AI in Action - Edward and Habib - School of Computer Science and Technology, University of Bedfordshire

Net Zero with AI - Andrew Grantham - University of Bedfordshire’s Business School

• Discover AI's dual role in climate change—its energy demands and its potential to optimise systems for sustainability.

• Explore how AI-powered solutions can mitigate climate impact by enhancing energy efficiency and managing demand curves.

• Learn how AI tools enable businesses to adapt to a warming world through innovative processes and system management.

Funding for Business - Debbie Lewis, NatWest [TBC]

Start time: 2 pm

End time: 2.15 pm

(15 mins)

Thank you for attending & Wrap up