The power of innovation to transform lives for the better is the focus of three online events being hosted by Barnsley Digital Media Centre, as part of Sheffield Digital Festival.
Keynote speakers at the trio of virtual events include co-founder of the Eden Project Sir Tim Smit (pictured), the head of Google for Start-ups UK, Marta Krupinska (pictured below); and Barnsley-based entrepreneur Jonathan Corner, co-founder of fintech start-up ilumoni.
Access to all three interactive forums is free and the events will be streamed live from Monday to Friday this week (November 16th – 20th).
Barnsley’s digital business campus, The Seam, which is home to the Digital Media Centres (DMC 01 and DMC 02) and Barnsley College, is also the headline sponsor of Sheffield Digital Festival 2020.
DMC manager Tracey Johnson said: “We are proud to sponsor Sheffield’s annual celebration of digital business and creative thinking this year and very pleased to host three diverse events which explore the potential of shared innovation and experience to make changes for the good in our society.
“The Seam is focused on the future and how tech entrepreneurship can help build a better world and boost economic growth for our region.
“We hope people will join to our events online. We’ve got cracking line up of speakers talking about everything from the impact of big projects on local communities to the personal relationship between money, fintech apps and consumer confidence.”
The events are as follows:
Monday November 16th 3pm - Sir Tim Smit, co-founder of the ‘Eden Project’ will talk about how the transformation of a former china clay pit in Cornwall has made £1 billion for the local economy. Event hosts Joada Allen, director of Visualised IT and president of the Barnsley and Rotherham Chamber of Commerce, and Dr Simon Biltcliffe, founder and CEO of Webmart UK, will apply learning from Sir Tim’s story to The Seam’s ambitions to grow and boost the surrounding Barnsley economy. Book here: https://www.barnsleydmc.co.uk/event/sir-tim-smit-how-big-ideas-make-great-places/
Wednesday November 18th, 9am - The head of Google for Start-ups UK Marta Krupinska will give the keynote speech at a event designed to look back on what has been achieved through Barnsley’s ‘Tech Revolution’ project which has linked the town with six other industrial towns in Europe to share ideas about regeneration though digital innovation and SME growth. Book here: https://www.barnsleydmc.co.uk/event/tech-revolution-the-final-sharing-event-with-keynote-speaker-marta-krupinska/
Friday November 20th, 12pm A panel of financial technology (fintech) experts and enthusiasts will discuss ‘Money Talks – can tech help build a better financial culture.’ The line-up includes Katja Lichtenstein co-creator of the Dozens finance app designed to make money management smarter; Jonathan Corner, co-founder of Barnsley-based ilumoni, developers of a free app to help users manage borrowing, pay less interest and clear debt faster and Jem Henderson, of Tech Nation (Yorkshire), a Government-backed network dedicated to supporting innovators to scale their start-ups. The panel will be chaired by Helen Nugent, a journalist who has worked on the Financial Times, The Times and the Spectator covering business and personal finance. Book here: https://www.barnsleydmc.co.uk/event/money-talks-can-tech-help-build-a-better-finance-culture/
Sheffield Digital Festival aims to showcase and celebrate what the city region’s creative and tech communities have to offer and takes place November 16th to the 22nd this year using augmented reality, virtual stages and outdoor events.
‘The Seam’, Barnsley’s Digital Campus, is home to DMC 01 and DMC 02, business hubs for dozens of creative and digital businesses as well as the council’s business support team, Enterprising Barnsley. Barnsley College’s SciTech building for digital learning and apprenticeships is also based here. In future, there are plans to add residential, retail, hotel and transport facilities.
