The Leeds Digital Festival is back for its ninth year, uniting tech enthusiasts across the city.
- Set from 16-27 September, the festival will host over 200 events exploring AI, online safety, and more.
- Festival director Stuart Clarke highlights the event’s role in showcasing Leeds as a growing digital hub.
- Premier sponsors contribute significantly, supporting events that strengthen relationships within the tech sector.
- Jay Patel from Leeds Building Society emphasises the festival’s inspiration for tech innovation in Leeds.
The Leeds Digital Festival has returned for its ninth iteration, aiming to facilitate collaboration within the burgeoning tech sector of the city. This year, the festival spans from 16th to 27th September, boasting an extensive programme of over 200 events situated across various venues in Leeds. These events are designed to cater to a diverse array of interests within the tech community, covering critical topics such as artificial intelligence, online safety, equality within the tech sector, and smart city innovations.
Stuart Clarke, the director of the Leeds Digital Festival, expressed the enthusiasm surrounding the event as it shines a spotlight on Leeds and its digital initiatives. He articulated that the continued generosity of sponsors allows the festival to not only operate annually in September but also maintain an active digital platform throughout the year, including hosting a smaller, complementary event in April. Clarke emphasised the festival’s pivotal role in bolstering Leeds’s reputation as the fastest growing digital economy outside of London. This growth significantly contributes to the Leeds City Region tech sector, generating a substantial £6.5 billion for the UK economy annually. He noted the festival’s capacity to fortify existing partnerships and foster new, strategically significant connections.
The festival is underpinned by prominent support from premier sponsorships, including BJSS and PEXA, alongside executive sponsors such as Accenture, DWP Digital, Glean, Lloyds Bank, Nexus University of Leeds, and Flutter. These sponsors play a vital role in ensuring the successful execution of the festival, enabling a wide range of activities that promote networking and knowledge sharing.
Jay Patel, Head of Technology at Leeds Building Society, commented on their involvement as launch sponsors, hosting the official launch party and participating actively in the festival’s programming. Patel outlined their contributions, which encompass a series of events addressing pertinent issues like cloud data, diversity, and intersectionality. He praised the festival as a crucial celebration of the extraordinary digital contributions made by Leeds businesses and its significant impact on the dynamic evolution of both the UK and global tech ecosystems. Their active participation aligns with their goals to drive innovation and inspire those engaged in or considering careers within the digital sector.
The Leeds Digital Festival continues to be a cornerstone in promoting digital growth and collaboration within the city, significantly enhancing its tech sector’s reputation.
