Leeds Digital Festival is launching a packed festival programme with over 240 events registered. The Festival is designed to inspire and encourage collaboration with the aim of promoting the strength of the sector in the city to a global audience.
Delegates can attend the Festival in person or virtually with a range of events from the region's leading digital organisations, including Accenture, Microsoft, KPMG, BJSS, TPP, Lloyds Bank, Leeds Building Society, Codurance, and Snowflake. It runs from 18 to 29 September at a host of venues around the city.
The Festival will be attended by Paul Scully, the Minister for Tech and the Digital Economy, along with other guests, including Clare Barclay, CEO of Microsoft UK.
Commenting on the launch, Stuart Clarke MBE, festival director, said: "The Leeds Digital Festival continues to evolve to meet the needs of industry. This year hundreds of events will inspire delegates and encourage collaboration to highlight the strengths of the digital community in the city.
"The programme has something for everyone, with events ranging from a data conference and kids coding club to sustainability, cyber-security, AI and computer-aided design with Burberry. There is lots of help for entrepreneurs seeking to launch a business with advice on sourcing startup investment, networking, inspiration and learning."
Minister for tech and the digital economy, Paul Scully MP said: “Leeds is a leading hub for innovative, creative, and transformative digital solutions. The area has a thriving ecosystem of digital and tech businesses, employing around 102,000 people and contributing £6.6bn to the UK’s economy.
“I look forward to taking part in the events at Leeds Digital Festival to learn about the exciting innovations that are being seen from the growth of tech in this region."
The Festival will also feature Leeds Digital Careers Fair on 26 September at Leeds Arena. It will showcase over 100 employers and training providers and over 1,500 attendees.
Rich McIntyre, chief engineer of BJSS, one of the UK’s largest IT and business consultancies, said: “The digital community in Leeds has grown to include every discipline and attracts talent from around the world. It inspires groundbreaking work that spans the medical sector to gaming. BJSS is pleased to support the festival again this year, and we encourage everyone in tech to come together and get involved.”
Leeds Digital Festival is the UK's largest open platform tech event and the biggest outside London. The open and inclusive nature of the programme enables everyone, from startups to global organisations, to host events. The vast majority of events are free to attend to ensure it remains accessible to all.
The Festival is supported by premier sponsors BJSS, TPP and PEXA, alongside executive sponsors Accenture, Glean, Jungle IT, LCC, Lloyds Bank, Nexus, University of Leeds, and Flutter.
An event to launch the Festival will be hosted by sponsors, Leeds Building Society on 14 September.
