On the 13th of September Business Peak District collaborated with the Peak District Partnership to deliver the fifth annual PDP think tank, which had as its focus “smart technology and the urban-rural digital divide”. The think tank was hosted by Buxton and Leek College at the Devonshire Dome in Buxton, with East Midlands Chamber as the principal sponsor, and was attended by 35 key public, private and third sector decision-makers from across the Peak District.
Following five well received presentations, there was a lively and insightful discussion that explored a range of topics including the opportunities and challenges for Peak District communities and businesses arising from the digital revolution. The discussion then moved on to consider a range of innovations that could be deployed to address the challenges and optimise the opportunities, including the possible establishment of a network of digital champions and digital hubs, as well as skills acquisition strategies and funded support programmes. Of course, the devil is in the detail and so there followed close engagement between the Peak District Partnership, Business Peak District and other organisations represented at the event, which has resulted in the production of the attached Call to Action document that will assist the Peak District in optimising the opportunities arising from the digital revolution. In supporting this process, BPD is directly addressing part of Priority 2 in its 2024 Terms of Reference, i.e. “To lobby alongside other organisations to ensure that businesses in the Peak District are in a position to benefit from both transport and digital connectivity”.
Also, the Call to Action document and presentation slides from the think tank can now be accessed via the Peak District Partnership webpage.
If you would like to engage further on this topic, please write to Dr Peter Dewhurst either via chair@businesspeakdistrict.com, or peakdistrictprtnership@outlook.com.
