Bristol is one of the most important tech hubs in the country, so it’s no surprise that there are a huge variety of technology-related events going on here throughout the year. Here’s a quick rundown of some of the best of the year along with some upcoming events to put in your calendar.
1. Bristol Technology Festival
Bristol Technology Festival has just come to an end for another year, but it is one that you should definitely visit next year. It takes place in the first week of November, and its aim is to boost Bristol’s tech profile, showcase the activity across tech sectors and make technology more accessible to the people of Bristol.
This year, it combined 42 events on tech topics, including everything from digital transformation challenges to technology in farming and building a Martian house.
2. Bristech Conference
Bristech is another of the big Bristol tech events of the year. The 2019 event has just ended, but make sure you are there next year in early November.
It consists of a one-day technology conference at the Watershed for tech professionals and polyglot developers. This year, 500 attendees listened to about 20 speakers and took part in workshops, where topics like quantum computers and chaos engineering were covered.
3. Engine Shed (Multiple Events)
The Engine Shed is one of the most important tech spaces in Bristol, and it holds numerous events throughout the year that are open to the public.
One upcoming event is ‘Practical Embedded Linux Device Drivers’ (December 16th to 19th), a hands-on course where you can learn to write device drivers. Another is ‘Mailchimp: A Crash Course for Charities and Social Businesses’ (February 28th, 2020). This is a full-day workshop where you can learn all about one of the most popular email marketing service providers.
4. IBBSW
IBBSW stands for ‘I’ll Be Back South West’. It is a free gathering that takes place every month, and the Christmas special is going to be held on December 10th from 6 pm until 8:30 pm at Hargreaves Lansdown on Anchor Road.
It explores AI, machine learning and how technology impacts creativity in the marketing and advertising industry. There is a strong focus on innovation, and guest speakers are invited. It’s a free event, and drinks follow the talks.
5. Coding Bootcamp Taster Evening
If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to code, the Coding Bootcamp Taster Evening is for you. The event will be held on May 13th, 2020 from 7 pm until 9 pm at Unit 1.8, Paintworks on Bath Road. Head over to enjoy some creative coding and discover more about getting started, or learn about getting into a career in web development.
You need to bring a laptop, and during the evening you will learn how to build a simple web game. You can also talk to instructors and discover what you need to be a developer.
6. Workshop Wednesdays
Workshop Wednesdays are held every Wednesday on Redcliffe Way. Run by the Women’s Tech Hub, the aim is to build connections between women and the tech industry. The next one is on December 4th from 6 pm until 9 pm.
There is a whole mix of things going on including training, talks and projects, and they are all focused on technology and collaborations.
7. WebDev101
WebDev101 will be held on December 17th from 10 am until 1 pm. This study group is for anyone who wants to learn more about web development. There are no instructors, and the focus is on helping each other out.
Meet other people with similar interests, ask other developers questions and discover mentorship opportunities. Remember to bring a laptop.
8. Learn to Code
Find out more about coding at the Learn to Code event information day on December 4th from 2 pm until 6 pm at _nology Bristol Office on Portwall Place. Here you can find out what you need to become a developer, learn whether a tech career is right for you, and design a web application. Talk to leading instructors and learn about the core languages making up web applications.
9. Cobots on Tour
Cobots on Tour is being held at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL) on December 11th from 9:30 am until 2:30 pm. It’s a free event where you can discover the latest automation solutions from Universal Robots.
Learn how to optimise efficiency in production via cobots and automation, and even have a go at programming the robots. You can also talk with experts and explain your automation challenges.
10. Umbraco Spark
For Umbraco developers, this event is a must. Umbraco Spark is a conference that will be held on March 6th, 2020 from 9 am until 5 pm at the M Shed on Wapping Road. Here, you can find out all the latest happenings with Umbraco including ideas and implementations. You will also learn about machine learning, artificial intelligence, apps and more.
As you can see, there is so much going on in Bristol in the tech space. Whatever your speciality and interests, whether you are considering honing your coding skills, learning about web development or just interested in technology, you’ll find something techy that suits in Bristol. There’s a good chance that you will bump in to one our tech support geeks while you are there.
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