Celebrating Team Anniversaries At Our Hubs
Today marks the 2-year work anniversary of our Business Engagement Managers based in Forth Valley and Dumfries.
Andy Todman, Business Engagement Manager for S5GConnect Dumfries, based on The Crichton Estate, and Tom Marchbanks, Business Engagement Manager for S5GConnect Forth Valley, based within Forth Valley College’s Alloa Campus both started on 17th May 2021.
Since then, the hubs have hosted over 20 events both virtual and in-person; bringing together public, private and not for profit organisations, and businesses and academia based within the regions.
In Dumfries, Andy has welcomed a number of businesses and distinguished guests to the hub including Andrew Bailey, Governor of the Bank of England and Will Dowson, Bank of England’s Agent for Scotland highlighting the role which 5G and other advanced technologies are playing in enhancing the impact rural communities like Dumfries and Galloway can have on the wider economy.
S5GConnect Dumfries also launched our inaugural innovation challenge, outlining three core challenges within the health and social care sector with the purpose of bringing 5G solutions into the supply chain or close to market realisation. As part of the challenge each of the three winning companies took part in a 15-week development programme; with access to the Private 5G testbed in Dumfries and one-to-one technical expertise to support technical development.
During COP26, in Dumfries, Andy, working with the University of Glasgow’s Communication, Sensing and Imaging Team hosted a 5G-enabled video conference via the Private 5G networks at S5GConnect Dumfries and the University of Glasgow demonstrating the low latency capabilities of the network.
Over in Forth Valley, Tom has welcomed local businesses in to the hub to test their products and services over the Private 5G network. Most recently, Lightwater Sensors, a spin-out from the School of Physics & Astronomy at the University of St Andrews, specialising in developing portable, real-time optical chemical sensors for pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and explosives visited the hub to test their water quality detection sensors over the 5G network. Testing was successful meaning that the sensors can be left in situ at remote sites and checked remotely by the team. This reduces the need to travel and ensures that any pollution events are picked up as they happen, speeding up response and mitigation.
Environmental monitoring and reducing carbon emissions are key areas of focus at S5GConnect Forth Valley. With the rising cost of energy consumption fast becoming one of the world’s most pressing challenges, it’s important to re-evaluate energy usage and come up with a strategy to change our collective behaviours to save money and resources and at S5GConnect Forth Valley, Tom has connections with the organisations leading the way including Scotland’s International Environment Centre (SIEC) and the Centre for Engineering Education and Development (CeeD).
Earlier this year, Tom hosted an event in partnership with CeeD on how 5G and data connectivity plays an important role in reducing carbon emissions during the manufacturing process highlighting the opportunities within the region and how 5G can transform industries, optimising and automising everyday tasks.
And it doesn’t stop here! Our regional hub team are continuing to host events, invite businesses into our Private 5G testing environments and showcase how advanced communications can transform workplaces.
Find out more about our innovation hubs and what we offer here: https://scotland5gcentre.org/ourinnovationhubs/
Get in touch with the team here: https://scotland5gcentre.org/expression-of-interest/