BCN and Downtown in Business announce strategic partnership to drive AI and public-sector innovation

25th October 2026

Downtown in Business has today announced a new strategic partnership with technology specialist BCN, aimed at strengthening engagement with government, city regions and the public sector and championing the role of AI and digital innovation in improving public services and driving economic growth.

Downtown in Business (DIB) has announced a new strategic partnership with technology specialist BCN, aimed at strengthening engagement with government, city regions and the public sector and championing the role of AI and digital innovation in improving public services and driving economic growth.

The partnership will see DIB work alongside BCN to raise the profile of its expertise and technology solutions among senior decision-makers across local and national government, the NHS and the wider public sector.

Founded in the North West, BCN supports clients across the UK and internationally, helping organisations use technology, data and AI to improve performance, productivity and decision-making.

An initial focus will be the Liverpool City Region and Greater Manchester, where the partners will explore opportunities to support major regeneration, public-service reform and wider economic priorities.

Central to the partnership will be BCN Group’s Public View platform, which provides public-sector organisations with enhanced intelligence and insight to help improve decision-making, efficiency and the delivery of services.

Frank McKenna, Group chair and chief executive of Downtown in Business, said: “AI is going to fundamentally change the way businesses and public services operate, and the organisations that embrace that change intelligently will be the ones that thrive.

BCN has developed some genuinely exciting technology and expertise, and our partnership is about putting that capability in front of the people who are grappling with some of the biggest challenges facing our cities and public services.

The Liverpool City Region and Greater Manchester provide fantastic opportunities to demonstrate what can be achieved. From regeneration and place-based investment to the pressures facing our NHS, there are major opportunities to use data, technology and AI to deliver better outcomes.

Our job at DIB is to connect BCN with the right people, stimulate the right conversations and help turn those conversations into tangible projects and partnerships.

Rob Davies, chief executive of BCN Group, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Downtown in Business at an exciting time for BCN.

Technology and AI have enormous potential to help public-sector organisations make better decisions, improve productivity and ultimately deliver better services for communities.

Public View has been developed with those challenges firmly in mind, turning complex information into intelligence that leaders can use to make faster and more informed decisions.

Working with DIB gives us an opportunity not simply to showcase that technology, but to engage directly with city leaders, government, the NHS and the wider business community about how innovation can help address real-world challenges.

We are particularly excited about the opportunities in the Liverpool City Region and Greater Manchester and the potential to develop projects that can provide a blueprint for other city regions across the UK.”

The partnership will combine BCN Group’s technology expertise with DIB’s extensive network across business, local government, combined authorities and Westminster.Activity will initially focus on the Liverpool City Region and Greater Manchester before expanding engagement into other UK city regions.

About BCN 

BCN is a leading UK technology partner helping ambitious organisations transform through cloud, data, security, AI and managed services. Combining deep Microsoft expertise with a focus on measurable business outcomes, BCN supports customers across the public and private sectors in modernising operations, improving productivity and unlocking new opportunities through technology.