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Future Talent in Tech – West of England IoT, Weston College & University Centre Weston Networking Event

Join at the Bristol Training Institute on Friday 11th October from 2-4pm for a focused networking event, co-hosted by West of England Institute of Technology, and Weston College to discuss the future of talent in the tech industry.

This event will provide an opportunity for educators, business leaders, and local partners to engage in a dialogue on the evolving skills landscape and how institutions are responding to the latest government strategies.

With the recent release of the Inaugural Skills England report, and the government’s commitment to revamping the apprenticeship system, this session will delve into the implications for employers and young people. Topics will include the Prime Minister’s pledge to overhaul apprenticeships, the launch of the Growth and Skills Levy—offering businesses more flexibility in funding apprenticeships—and the introduction of new Foundation Apprenticeships, aimed at giving young people a stepping stone into the workforce.

Representatives from IoT/Weston College/University Centre Weston will present their strategic response to these changes, outlining new/ initiatives designed to align their programs with industry demand, close identified skills gaps, and create pathways for future talent in the technology sector.

The event will conclude with an opportunity for attendees to network and exchange ideas, fostering new partnerships to support the region’s growth and address the critical skills shortages highlighted in the Skills England report.

Light refreshments will be provided.
Date & Time: 11th October, 2-4pm
FREE to attend
Location: Bristol Training Institute, 12 Colston Ave, Bristol BS1 1XH
We look forward to welcoming you to this insightful event

Bristol Creative Industries is delighted to be a sponsor of Thursday’s Creative Day at this week’s Bristol Technnology Week, alongside Aer Studios and MyWorld. 

Join us for an engaging and interactive panel discussion that will dive into the future of creative technology in our region. Building on the insights from our morning workshop, our panel of industry experts will discuss the untapped potential of our sector and work together to define a shared vision for the future.

Meet the panel:

Briony Phillips | The Bristol Business Bugle | Connector | Facilitator
Gail Caig | Bristol Creative Industries | Creative England | Policy Advisor
Ash Phillips | Rebellious Co | Start-up Mentor
Nicola Price | Digital Catapult | Strategic Partnerships

We’ll explore how the South West’s unique “open source” culture can foster deeper collaboration between the creative and tech industries. Expect thought-provoking discussions on policy, funding, ethics and inclusion. We’ll also discuss how emerging technologies will impact the creative sector and the role of creativity in future innovations.

You’ll be joined by key figures from the creative industries, including representatives from film & TV, media, design, arts, gaming and music, each bringing their own perspectives to the conversation.

So, come along, be part of this important dialogue, and help set the direction for the South West as a global leader in creative technology. Together, we’ll identify tangible steps to turn vision into action and elevate our region on the world stage.

The Sheds facility tours

While you are with us at the panel, why not hop across the road for a tour of the facilities available at The Sheds. The Sheds is a purpose-built R&D production house, driving University of Bristol research with industry production. Take a look at the spaces and hear about the opportunities for collaboration at MyWorld. Visit the registration page to book your tour slot.

Join us at The Square Club on Thursday 17th October from 12.30-2pm. BCI’s members’ lunches are the perfect opportunity to catch up with fellow members and the BCI team and, as some of our lunches are now in person again, you can enjoy a delicious Mediterranean buffet lunch too!

That was genuinely the best networking event I’ve ever been to! So many very useful connections made from the moment I walked through the door. Lovely food, relaxed atmosphere and plenty of time and space to get to know people.  An all round wonderful experience, thank you BCI team for organising such a fantastic event. ~ Danie Stinchcombe, Marketing Director @ Gather Round

There’ll be plenty of opportunities to catch up with old friends and meet some new faces too. Everyone will have a 3 min slot to introduce themselves and tell the others a little about who they are and what they do and share any news and/or challenges. You don’t need to fill the three minutes but we do set a timer to make sure everyone has time to talk! We usually find some common themes emerge which we can discuss over the course of the session.  It’s all very informal with no need to stand up and present slides!

The members’ lunch is much more than just pitching; it’s a shared space for connecting with your peers to discuss challenges and opportunities for collaboration, and generally celebrating the wonderfully eclectic mix of creative businesses in the region.

We see businesses of all shapes and sizes during the session. From the managing director of an established 50+ person agency to founders of innovative startups, each month we encourage a variety of members to attend. You’re more likely to meet potential partners or referrers than competitors.

If you’d like to attend email BCI’s membership manager Alli Nicholas at [email protected].  The members’ lunches tend to fill up quickly so if you miss out on this one, you’ll be top of the list for the next!

Not a member? Sign up today so you can join the lunch!

Please note, our members’ lunches are for active business and freelance members but not for student members.

Returning to Bristol after 4 years in hiatus
A load of fun talks, centered around creativity.

Theme = HAPPINESS

Each talk just 20 slides, 20 seconds each!

SPEAKERS
1. Carl Godfrey (Designer & Illustrator)
2. Helen Liang (Creative Practice Consultant at Industryofus)
3. Vicki Leach (Design Director at Deadgood)
4. TBC
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(Get in touch via our website if you’d like to speak at this or a future PKN!)

Format: Standing + some seating
Doors: 18:00
Start: 18.30

From £4 advance (£7 on the door)

MAIN SPONSOR: TBC

20x£20 SPONSORS
1. Duncan Shotton Design Studio
2. Bristol Design Forge
3. Urban Creation
4. TBC
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Bristol Creative Industries is delighted to be a sponsor of Thursday’s Creative Day at this week’s Bristol Technnology Week, alongside Aer Studios and MyWorld. 

Come and discover the cutting edge of digital innovation and creativity at MyWorld’s showcase at Motion, Bristol.

Step into the future at the MyWorld’s Creative Tech Showcase at Motion, part of the renowned Bristol Technology Festival!

Join us and immerse yourself as we explore emerging technology innovations and trends, such as AI, immersive, gaming, sound and how they are going to continue to transform creative industries.

We will be showcasing the technology that has been researched and developed through MyWorld.

What to Expect:

Check out details of the brand new WECA funded Skills Bootcamp in Virtual Production with Sony VENICE 2.

Apply by 09:00 23 October. For more details please see https://www.myworld-creates.com/opportunities/skills-bootcamps-in-virtual-production/

Jingle and Mingle is BACK! Calling all Entrepreneurs, Freelancers and Business Owners!
It’s time to take a break from the hustle and celebrate the season with Bristol’s best and biggest Christmas party!

Join for a night of festive fun, delicious food, live music and a few magical surprises! Whether you’re here to dance, make new connections or find out what 2025 has in store for Social Circle Network, we can’t wait to see you!

What’s included?

More to be announced soon…

So, what are you waiting for?
Grab your friends, your best Christmas jumper and join us for a night that’ll sleigh (pun intended)

This is THE Christmas party you won’t want to miss.

Limited tickets available:

Meet our Sponsor – YTKO
YTKO supports entrepreneurs & businesses with the support of 1:1 coaching, training workshops, e-learning, networking events, grants and more!

Please note by attending this event, you agree to be photographed and have your image used in promotional material.

We can’t wait to raise a glass (or two!) with you! See you at the party!

Join us for an evening of chitchat about social media, content, and community building.

We’ll have a couple of talks, as well as time at the beginning for pizza, drinks, chatting & networking.

Plus the usual favourites Latest News, Social Sin Bin, Stuff We Like and The Tools of Engagement.

How to master:Meta ads

Lia Kelly heads up marketing at The Prince’s Trust and has over 12 years’ experience in digital. Faced with a tighter charity budget in her current role, she got creative with her approach to Meta advertising and successfully doubled conversions while halving CPA in one year. How? Well, you’ll have to get a ticket to find out.

How to define your expertise

What is expertise and how do you prove you have it? Learn how to define the expertise in your business, prove it to your audience and use it to build your brand authority in this talk from Rin Hamburgh, a journalist turned copywriter and now founder and director of Rin Hamburgh & Co.

Are you an Event Manager who works in the creative sector in the West of England and North Somerset?

We’d like to invite you to join our interactive focus group, to discuss the essential skills needed to organise, run and manage successful events.

We will also delve deeper into the skills you think Event Managers will need in the future, taking into consideration the rise in virtual and hybrid events, AI and remote working.

You’ll have the opportunity to take part in discussions around topics such as:

As people at the heart of the industry, your insights are crucial in shaping the Local Skills Improvement Plan and ensuring local training aligns with business needs.

Attendees will have the chance to connect in-person with industry peers, feed into the wider skills strategy for the West of England and North Somerset, plus explore training and resources available in the local area to prepare individuals for a career in event management.

Book today to secure your free place.

Are you an interpreter or translator?

As part of the Local Skills Improvement Plan for West of England and North Somerset, we’d like to invite you to join an interactive, online focus group discussing what skills are needed for translation.

As the global landscape and technology continues to evolve, so do the challenges and opportunities in translation. The need to be able to translate effectively and efficiently across different languages and cultures is paramount, as well as understanding any sensitivities, stereotypes or societal norms that are relevant to the content you are producing.

We’d like to discuss challenges that come with new technology, how we can avoid stereotypes and ensure authentic representation, using AI, translators for less commonly translated languages and more.

You’ll have the opportunity to join in an interactive discussion and meet other translators and translation project managers, all whilst also feeding into the wider skills strategy for your local area.

Book today to secure your free place!