Today Kelly Tolhurst MP welcomed Gareth Mann, Founder and CEO of Rochester’s own Digital Contact, to appear at the Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee’s inquiry into the digital economy. This was a fantastic opportunity to showcase to Parliament one of Medway’s many flourishing start-up small businesses, particularly in the digital industry.
Digital Contact is a local big data products company, which helps businesses, consumers and investors make faster and better decisions by transforming real-time data surrounding them, such as internal, corporate information; social media; news articles; blog posts and other public sources, into actionable insights.
Responding to a series of questions from MPs, Mr Mann joined a small panel in explaining the complementary role digital technology of this kind has to play in the financial services and business sectors. It was with great interest that the Committee learned of the ever-evolving nature of companies such as Digital Contact given the constant advancement of the technology and skills required.
Following the Committee’s hearing, Kelly spoke of her pleasure for welcoming Digital Contact to the House of Commons along with highlighting the exciting small businesses that Medway is developing.
“Having Gareth and Digital Contact here today to give evidence to the BIS Select Committee shows the quality and importance of businesses we have across Medway.”
“There is a significant level of exciting and innovative activity across the science and technology sector occurring within our local economy and I have a deep sense of pride in seeing how it is helping to drive forward national standards and processes."
Kelly added that, “Looking forwards, I am particularly encouraged by the future Medway can have in harnessing the talent and innovation of local businesses such as Digital Contact, with the expansion of the North Kent Innovation Zone to Rochester.”
Rochester airport is in part of an area granted Enterprise Zone status in Chancellor George Osborne's autumn statement. Land for a science and technology park will be freed up by decommissioning a grass runway within the airport's grounds, and will create around 1,000 jobs.