One of the best things about working at Sunderland Software City (SSC) is the constant encouragement when it comes to our development. I have now been a part of SSC for 4 years, and the learning opportunities, as well as the international trips, conferences and events I have been lucky enough to experience have been invaluable. The learning opportunities and space for growth are something I value hugely, and I love that as an employee, my curiosity (and nosiness!) is praised, and I think appreciated. Knowledge sharing and cross team working are part of the glue that makes the many programmes we run here at SSC so successful, so I jumped at the chance to engage with our Digital Adoption team. My role has changed in the last year from Engagement Specialist to Community Outreach Coordinator, allowing me to explore even more of what is going on behind the scenes with my colleagues and other teams and, excitingly, allowing me time to attend more of the events we run for communities across the region, specifically the wonderful  Digital Pathfinders programme.

As someone who has worked closely with businesses and communities across the region, I am always super keen to see the offerings available to them, specifically when it comes to digital growth and innovation. The session I had the pleasure of attending was the AI, Automation, and Intelligent Agents workshop, hosted at Trinity Green, South Shields. I left feeling genuinely inspired by what this programme is offering to organisations across South Tyneside and beyond. It was great to see not only how well attended the session was, but also to see many familiar faces from the business community from my hometown, people I knew to be entrepreneurial and resourceful.

Through my work on the Tech Startup Sunderland programme, I had the brilliant opportunity to work with Ben and Nathan, our very own Digital Adoption Specialists, 2 of the team leading the way on the Digital Pathfinders programme. Their skills of collaboration and guidance, and the valuable knowledge of mentoring that they offered our cohorts, gave another more personal touch to the startup programme we delivered. To bring you up to speed, the Digital Pathfinders programme launched in 2020, supporting over 450 organisations across the region, and I am over the moon to say that it has now arrived in South Tyneside. I am somewhat biased, being a South Shields/ Sand Dancer lass, but couldn’t help but be enthused to hear of the team bringing their talents to the borough. Their purpose is to assist those who are looking to expand their digital capabilities within their business, and to ensure that it’s as seamless a process as possible.

Entering your business into the digital age can be a timely and demotivating process; there are so many factors to consider, and ridding yourself of the dreaded “imposter syndrome” is a huge one. We have seen these exact same issues arise time and time again within the startup sector, as if the arrival of AI in its early stages wasn’t enough for entrepreneurs and business owners to manage, the speed of advancement of this technology is beyond what any of us would have thought. With the rise of automation and AI, it was a blessing to have the Digital Pathfinders team deliver this much needed session, and guide us through it with ease. One of the main factors mentioned is that it’s completely understandable that people can feel that they are falling behind in this digital age, and this is where Digital Pathfinders steps in.

The session was welcoming, informative and inspiring, and it was amazing to see attendees so engaged. A personal favourite moment was when an attendee asked if there was any way to pay for further mentoring, to which our specialists responded:
“We offer fully funded 1:1 support to you and your business.”  
I could see the nods of approval and the sighs of relief from those in attendance, knowing that the support didn’t end when the session did. The programme offers tailored support to those who need it, and we can see from the feedback and the success of the programme over the years that is vital to the region.

I am no expert in AI or automation and have attended talks that even as someone from the tech sector found to be overwhelming. What the Digital Pathfinders programme does is bring awareness to some of the affordable, accessible tools that businesses can use, and the resources that go alongside them. It was brilliant to observe how well the team could translate jargon, lingo and generally ease people's worries while upskilling them in an area they perhaps hadn’t considered.  

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Final Thoughts

If you’re an SME, charity, or social enterprise here in South Tyneside and you’re curious about AI, automation, or adopting new digital tools, I can’t recommend Digital Pathfinders enough. Whether you’re starting from scratch or already exploring new technologies, the programme offers friendly, expert guidance that meets you exactly where you are on your journey.

To learn more, and to register for the programme and latest sessions, please visit digitalpathfinders.uk, and if the workshop I attended is anything to go by, you’ll be very glad you did!

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