Over the past month, we’ve had the opportunity to actively support and engage with Gloucestershire’s growing tech ecosystem through two major initiatives: the Tech Futures Summit, hosted by Cynam and Patch, and a series of Growth Hub workshops aimed at empowering local businesses.
The Tech Futures Summit brought together innovators, business leaders, educators, and community builders from across Gloucestershire. The central theme running through the event was clear: community drives innovation.
We were pleased to deliver part of the Ask the Expert sessions, alongside other professionals sharing support in their own specialist areas, offering 1:1 time with local businesses to provide guidance and practical advice. These conversations highlighted the strength and diversity of Gloucestershire’s enterprise community.
In addition, we contributed to the Gloucestershire Tech Map, a collaborative initiative showcasing the region’s tech organisations and capabilities. Being part of this collective snapshot reflects our role in supporting the development of a more connected and visible tech landscape.
During the event, we also had the chance to mention TTT (The Tech Tribe) and GTIA (Global Technology Industry Association), signposting attendees to these communities that support technology, talent, and innovation globally.
The Summit also included a fireside chat between Freddie Fforde, founder of Patch, and Alex Cottrell from the University of Gloucestershire. They reflected on what community means in today’s tech environment, how we build it, sustain it, and create opportunities through it. It was a useful reminder of the role events like this play in bringing people together.
As well as the Summit, we partnered with the Growth Hub to deliver two free workshops for Gloucestershire businesses. These included sessions on cyber risk management and on artificial intelligence, all designed to give organisations practical tools to navigate fast-evolving technological challenges.
By offering these workshops at no cost, we helped ensure that businesses of all sizes from startups to established SMEs could access valuable knowledge and upskilling opportunities. This aligns directly with our commitment to supporting the local community through education, empowerment, and shared learning.
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Managing Director, Westway IT
John is the founder of Westway IT and works directly with small businesses across Gloucestershire to keep their IT secure, productive and stress-free.
With a BSc in Computer Science and hands-on experience supporting businesses from 1 to 40 users, he specialises in cyber security, Microsoft 365 and business automation.
An award-winning MSP owner and active member of the global IT community (including GTIA), John focuses on solving real business problems, not just technical ones.
Published: 30 March 2026 | Last Updated: 30 March 2026
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