Apple boss praises West Midlands' potential as hub for creativity and innovation
Birmingham and the West Midlands is on the brink of becoming a hub of media creativity that should help sustain prosperity for the region for years to come, Apple boss Mark Rogers told an audience in the city recently.
Acknowledging the talented individuals and companies already operating in and around Birmingham, Apple's MD for the UK and Nordic Regions, said: "If Birmingham and the West Midlands wants to become a heart of creativity, if you pool some resources you can create something unique here. I can see this as a hub of media content for next 10 to 15 years."
His comments were made at the official opening of the New Technology Institute's new building on Bartholomew Row in Birmingham city centre.
NTI’s new state-of-the-art HQ has become one of the few Apple certified training centres outside London in partnership with near-neighbour UCE Birmingham’s Technology Innovation Centre (TIC).
NTI and TIC have already begun delivering Apple-certified courses to meet the needs of the region’s media and IT professionals. The first Five Days of Apple taster courses attracted more than 300 participants and places on the next run starting May 8th are already filling up.
"We are excited to be involved and looking forward to working with the team here to make this happen," Rogers told the gathering, which included Frank Mills, BT's Regional Director for the West Midlands and Chairman for the NTI in Birmingham, Mary Martin, Pro Vice-Chancellor at UCE Birmingham, and Paul Sabapathy, Pro Chancellor and Chair of Governors at UCE.
Mark Rogers stressed the importance of the NTI's new premises and the technology and training available to media professionals and business people. “New technology must, by its very nature, be new and the latest hardware is out of date inside a year. Those who use it need to learn continuously to keep up to date with the newest software developments and hone their skills.”
"So how do you create an environment that can offer the latest technology? There is an opportunity for the type of facility you have here that can react extremely quickly, offering a training facility to small and medium sized businesses as well as education institutions so they can use the latest technology," Rogers said.
"The creative industries I think are one of the UK's best hidden assets but unless we keep investing and making ourselves relevant with new technology, other people with overtake us. It's not just about the technology but being able to use it in creative ways."
Further information
Further information on facilities for hire and Apple Certified Training available at The NTI in Birmingham can be found on www.ntibirmingham.co.uk , emailing [email protected] or by calling 0121 202 4800.
Acknowledging the talented individuals and companies already operating in and around Birmingham, Apple's MD for the UK and Nordic Regions, said: "If Birmingham and the West Midlands wants to become a heart of creativity, if you pool some resources you can create something unique here. I can see this as a hub of media content for next 10 to 15 years."
His comments were made at the official opening of the New Technology Institute's new building on Bartholomew Row in Birmingham city centre.
NTI’s new state-of-the-art HQ has become one of the few Apple certified training centres outside London in partnership with near-neighbour UCE Birmingham’s Technology Innovation Centre (TIC).
NTI and TIC have already begun delivering Apple-certified courses to meet the needs of the region’s media and IT professionals. The first Five Days of Apple taster courses attracted more than 300 participants and places on the next run starting May 8th are already filling up.
"We are excited to be involved and looking forward to working with the team here to make this happen," Rogers told the gathering, which included Frank Mills, BT's Regional Director for the West Midlands and Chairman for the NTI in Birmingham, Mary Martin, Pro Vice-Chancellor at UCE Birmingham, and Paul Sabapathy, Pro Chancellor and Chair of Governors at UCE.
Mark Rogers stressed the importance of the NTI's new premises and the technology and training available to media professionals and business people. “New technology must, by its very nature, be new and the latest hardware is out of date inside a year. Those who use it need to learn continuously to keep up to date with the newest software developments and hone their skills.”
"So how do you create an environment that can offer the latest technology? There is an opportunity for the type of facility you have here that can react extremely quickly, offering a training facility to small and medium sized businesses as well as education institutions so they can use the latest technology," Rogers said.
"The creative industries I think are one of the UK's best hidden assets but unless we keep investing and making ourselves relevant with new technology, other people with overtake us. It's not just about the technology but being able to use it in creative ways."
Further information
Further information on facilities for hire and Apple Certified Training available at The NTI in Birmingham can be found on www.ntibirmingham.co.uk , emailing [email protected] or by calling 0121 202 4800.
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