April 2023 Roundup: DigiFest tickets on sale!
By Sarah Cronk
It's been a busy month here at Chalk Eastbourne, so please excuse a shorter-than-usual monthly newsletter. That's not to say we don't have great news for you - in fact, it's the reason we've been so busy!
Two words: Eastbourne DigiFest!
Eastbourne DigiFest ticket sales are now live!
Whether you’re a digital professional, a local business, a student taking your first steps on the career ladder or a company looking for a new tech partner, Eastbourne DigiFest invites you to be inspired, learn something new and discover our beautiful town.
There will be talks, workshops, tours, and an exhibition, as well as the opportunity to network and enjoy a drink with other attendees.
With more names still to be confirmed, speakers include Will Callaghan from TechResort, Phil Jones from Wired Sussex, Charlie Mercer from COADEC, Ethan Brierley from TrueLayer, Adam from PRG, Grace Prior from Diverse Sussex/Silicon Brighton, Dan Wallman from Technative Digital, Kim Byford from Talent Accelerator, Donna Harfield from East Sussex College, Lewis Hobden from Switchplane, Russ Miles and Tomasz Odrobinski. The compere will be Garry James from Eastbourne Scoop.
Workshops cover everything from sector studies, starting up and finding talent, to diversity in tech and how to make your digital business greener.
Digifest is being organised Chalk Eastbourne, led by custom software specialists Switchplane, and supported by PRG, Recursive Digital, Racquet Studios, Eastbourne Chamber, Josh Babarinde OBE, East Sussex Careers Hub, and Bees Homes. Sponsors include the Birchwood Group and East Sussex College.
The event takes place on Friday 22nd September at Eastbourne’s Welcome Building. Early bird tickets, which cost £15, are now on sale. Other tickets will follow at £17.50.
A limited number of free student tickets are available for those studying locally.
We're still looking for sponsors and exhibitors, so please reply to this email if you'd like more information.
Big Futures for young people in digital!
It was fantastic to see so many keen young people at the Big Futures Show at Eastbourne Sports Park on Tuesday, and coming to speak to us to find out about roles within digital. Chalk Eastbourne supporter Josh Babarinde OBE even dropped by to say hi!
A big thank you to Calibre Marketing, BarkWeb, and Switchplane for hosting the Chalk Eastbourne stand for the day and advocating for local careers in digital - that's what it's all about!
Skills East Sussex Skills Summit coming soon
Originally planned for spring 2020, the long-awaited Skills Summit will now take place on Thursday 25th May 2023 at the Devonshire Quarter, Eastbourne, from 9am - 4pm.
The event will focus on new ways of recruiting and upskilling the existing workforce, as well as looking at future skills for business. It will enable local employers to engage with support and advice to address skills gaps, and help providers promote their offers and connect with employers to better support their needs. Employers, training providers, recruiters and work coaches are encouraged to learn from one another with participants from across a range of industry sectors.
The schedule for the day will be released soon, which will include keynote speakers, talks and panels, activities and an exhibition area.
Places to attend can be booked through Eventbrite.
One last thing...
Stuck for things to do over the upcoming bank holiday weekends? Why not...
Try our What3Words walking tour puzzle around Eastbourne?
Catch up on some of our recent interviews with digital business owners, such as Simon Whitney at Cloud, Voice & Data or Julian Perrott from BarkWeb?
Read the latest Guardian article showcasing the best of arty Eastbourne?
