Leading edge West Midlands firms are heading to US city Seattle in a bid to win business from some of the biggest technology companies in the world.

Seattle is the home of software giant Microsoft and the eight West Midlands companies will be showing off their expertise in front of some of the global leaders in the multi-billion pound digital technology industry.

On-line music and video retailer Real Networks, Big Fish Games and entertainment software group Valve will be among the major companies assessing the work from the West Midlands.

The eight companies are being taken to Seattle later this month by Government funded export agency UK Trade & Investment, along with regeneration agency Advantage West Midlands and Screen West Midlands, the regional agency set up to help film, TV and digital media businesses.

Jason Hall, head of innovation, new markets and skills for Screen WM, said: “As the home of Microsoft and some of the most successful digital content distributors in the world, Seattle is the perfect destination for this trade delegation and provides a great opportunity to showcase some of the outstanding digital content creators in the West Midlands.”

The participating companies will get briefings on the state of the digital market in the US and the support of British Embassy officials.