Andrew Stirling

Andrew has spent his career in Communications, starting at BBC R&D, developing technology for programme production and distribution. His experience embraces design of hardware & software, technology development strategy, communications & spectrum regulation and application to community needs. He has created patents and assisted clients with innovation strategy - at Cambridge Consultants/Arthur D Little.

He has presented at and also chaired International Conferences, including on behalf of Microsoft. At Ofcom, he led strategy work on Digital TV switchover and researched models used in other countries to bridge the affordability/accessibility gap. He worked with Ofcom and regulators in Europe to develop a framework for enabling TV white spaces (TVWS) to be applied to filling gaps in broadband coverage - particularly in rural areas.

After leading a trial of nearly 20 major players, for Microsoft, in Cambridge, which paved the way for UK regulations to be put in place, he started to work with Microsoft and other companies to apply the technology in rural Scotland. This led him to found an initiative called Digital Blacksmith ( www.digitablacksmith.org )to help apply digital technology in local businesses, signpost skill development resources and raise awareness of the benefits of mastering online basics. He was also part of the Glasgow Future City Demonstrator Advisory Board - applying big data to making a smarter city.

Later he helped found and became CTO for a company (Bakery Tech Ltd) targetting the roll-out of FWA in the US to reach unserved communities with affordable broadband. In the last few years, he has provided advice to the Ayrshire Growth Deal team on laying essential connectivity foundations to support the required coverage, capacity and resilience which will help them attract private investment for innovation.