he Scotland 5G Centre has appointed Tom Marchbanks as its new Business Engagement Manager at S5GConnect Forth Valley Hub in Alloa. Tom will be working with local businesses of all sizes across the wider Forth Valley area, to encourage them to access the skills and facilities available at the new innovation hub and harness the potential of 5G technology.
Tom will bring a wealth of experience, having worked overseas, building business engagement across a broad range of industry sectors.
Tom has worked with industry and governments to establish productive networks and to encourage inward investment, resulting in significant investment pipelines, such as venture capital investment from China into the Longbridge car plant in Birmingham.
S5GConnect Forth Valley offers a range of support, facilities and opportunities for businesses of all sizes to test and develop new 5G applications and services. One of its key projects, since its launch last September, is with the University of Stirling and underpinned by BT’s 5G mobile network from EE. This partnership is looking at the use of 5G in environmental industries. Researchers at Scotland’s International Environment Centre, part of the University of Stirling, will use this 5G capability to build a green data recovery platform to support Scotland’s Net Zero economy.
Tom’s role will be to connect with partners in the private, public and third sectors across industry and academia. He will also build networks with local small and medium sized businesses and entrepreneurs.
The Scotland 5G Centre will be running a series of virtual events over the Summer to raise awareness of the S5GConnect programme and show the wider Forth Valley business community the key benefits that 5G can offer.
Brad McGuire, Programme Manager for S5GConnect added:
“Tom is a great appointment for our hub in the Forth Valley. His knowledge of how businesses operate and their needs will be a huge benefit to connect local business and the academic community across the Forth Valley. Tom is the ideal advocate to communicate the benefits of 5G technology to create new opportunities or supercharge existing businesses.”
Simon Haston, Chief Technology Innovation Officer: Regions and Devolved Government, BT said:
“Collaborating with the innovation hub is an important part of our work to develop commercial business solutions using 5G technology. We are pleased the hub has employed Tom in this key business engagement role to encourage business involvement, interest and investment.”
Dr John Rogers, Executive Director, Research & Innovation Services, University of Stirling, said:
“Our team in Scotland’s International Environment Centre is working closely with the innovation hub on a key platform to support Scotland’s net zero ambitions. We are pleased to have Tom on board to develop this collaboration and to ensure academic partners are key to 5G innovation in the Forth Valley.”
