Research partnership launched to examine software development across West Midlands
Editorial Team
Posted On May 29, 2025
The Greater Birmingham, Coventry & Warwickshire, and Black Country Chambers of Commerce have partnered with Birmingham-based firm B13 to explore the challenges and opportunities businesses face when developing software in the West Midlands.
B13 is a start-up that focuses on Venture Mapping—a process designed to help non-technical business founders identify what software should be developed to meet their goals while minimising risk.
The collaboration will inform B13’s broader aim to make software development more accessible to non-technical innovators, providing clear routes from concept to implementation.
The research follows findings from the Business Commission West Midlands, which reported that 52% of firms in 2024 expected to increase investment in technology and artificial intelligence. AI and digital tools were identified as one of five key areas for driving economic growth in the region.
The new project will gather data on how businesses across the West Midlands Combined Authority area are approaching software development and the barriers they may encounter. Areas under consideration include mobile app development, digital tool creation, bespoke CRM systems, customer portals, and automation of internal processes.
Information will be collected through the Chambers’ Quarterly Business Report survey and a series of employer focus groups across Greater Birmingham, Coventry and Warwickshire, and the Black Country.
The findings will be published in a report titled Behind the Build, which will be launched in October at a Chamber Business Growth Studio event.
Raj Kandola, acting deputy chief executive at the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, said:
“Software development presents a vital opportunity for businesses across the West Midlands to innovate, improve efficiency, and support economic growth.
To fully realise this potential, this research aims to produce a clear picture of the outlook for software development in the region, the challenges firms are facing and future needs in software development.
It will then be used inform the delivery of successful software development projects for the future.”
Tara Lawrence, CEO at B13, added:
“Software development shouldn’t be a daunting process – it should feel empowering. We want to ensure that every SME, no matter its size or resources, can access custom, world-class software solutions that may once have seemed out of reach. Our mission is to build an industry-standard pathway from concept to launch that’s accessible, streamlined, and low-risk.
The findings from the Chambers’ research are a crucial step in helping us better understand the challenges that businesses in the West Midlands face, and in shaping solutions that meet their needs.”
