Join us for Esports Recovery and Future Growth - a dynamic panel exploring the future of UK esports. Hear from top voices including Kylie Kendrick (Senior Technical Specialist, Durham University), Matthew Ashford (Esports Psychologist, Guild Esports & Aston Villa), and others across the industry. We’ll discuss how to attract new players, fans, and funding, how to support young gamers, and whether it’s ever too late to get involved. Expect engaging insights, audience Q&A, and practical takeaways for players, parents, and professionals alike. This session is ideal for anyone passionate about the future of competitive gaming.

Understand what the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill means for SMEs, why they’re increasingly at risk, and how it connects to Cyber Essentials and ISO 27001. This webinar covers practical steps to prepare and how Melius CyberSafe helps SMEs with penetration testing, continuous monitoring, and compliance support.

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Melius CyberSafe + invited guests (tbc) will present this informative webinar with opportunities for Q&A and also pointing after the event to helpful resources for SMEs. 

Join us for a look into the world of advanced media production and the impact these tools are having on live performance. This interactive session will be led by Southpaw Dance Company, founded in 2013 under the artistic direction of Robby Graham, who consistently pushes the boundaries of dance theatre. The session will explore how technologies is opening new opportunities across the creative industries, culminating in live performance by Southpaw.

Join us at the BALTIC Riverside to celebrate TechNext25!TechNExt festival is a celebration of the North East's thriving technology sector.

Through a mixture of curated and community designed fringe events, TechNExt will serve as a showcase of the diversity, achievements and breadth of the tech sector in the North East. The festival aims to help drive the message that the North East is a region that is passionate about supporting, developing and growing its tech sector for the benefit of everyone.

Festival Party - Thursday 19 June (7.00pm - 11.00pm) - BALTIC Riverside Cafe, Gateshead

Complete your festival week the right way. TechNExt invites you to an informal festival party at the iconic BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Arts. It’s a moment to revel in the remarkable achievements of the North East tech sector while meeting and catching up with fellow tech enthusiasts and attendees from across the UK.

Food is provided, and as part of our Good Festival Ambition, please note that all catering at this event will be vegetarian. All additional dietary requirements will also be catered for, please state your needs on the booking form.

Good Festival Ambition

The festival is planned as a Good Festival with ‘for good’ being a core value running through everything. This will ensure a focus on quality, inclusivity, diversity, accessibility, and sustainability.

As part of this ambition, we are offering a buddy system where attendees can select the option to be met by a friendly face from the TechNExt team or wider community on arrival. Your buddy would help you feel comfortable at the event perhaps by chatting over a coffee on arrival, introducing you to new faces, or help you understand more about the content of the event and what's planned that day. You can apply for a 'buddy' through the ticket purchase process.

We are also committed to minimising the impact of our events on the environment. We work closely with our clients, venues, suppliers and delegates to reduce the impact of our activity wherever possible. Last year, the festival's carbon from curated events was 7.49 tCO2e and we decided, as an ethical offset, to donate the equivalent carbon credit value to a North East environmental charity, Groundwork North East & Cumbria for their nature-based solutions programme. More measures will be intoduced this year, tracking the festival's carbon footprint once again, leading us to further reduce our impact and become carbon neutral in future years.

You will be asked to complete some questions about your planned travel which will help us create the carbon footprint for the festival.

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Refunds

Please note our ticket refund policy below:

Up to 12 weeks before the event starts - full refundMore than 8 weeks before the event starts, but less than 12 weeks - 50% refundLess than 8 weeks before the event starts - no refund

The session will combine an abstract visual landscape experienced via an Apple Vision device, with a short Yoga Nidra. 

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Nidra, which literally translates as "sleep", is a form of NSDR (Non Sleeping Deep Rest), sort of like a guided meditation. The goal is bring the mind into a meditative state. Traditionally this practice is done in darkness, and the participants are guided via the voice of the facilitator. This new experience will combine that with the colour, motion and depth available with the VisionOS platform.

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The participants will be seated for safety as well as relaxation. 

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We only have access to one device. If it's possible to borrow some additional devices, the workshop could be run with a group of up to 10, and would last for 30-60 minutes. If that's not possible, the workshop could be run for one person at a time, with the experience lasting around 15 minutes instead. 

New to TechNExt in 2024, the Schools Challenge engages North East school children in tech and with tech employers in the region.  

Technology is all around us, but sometimes it‘s difficult to understand what a career in the tech industry might be like. The Schools Challenge will help school children get an insight into the industry.  

By focusing on ‘Tech for Good' and working with North East tech industry mentors, the Challenge invites school children between 9-13 years to develop an innovative tech-based solution that addresses a real life problem and could help them and the world they live in!  

This year, the students are encouraged to look at themes such as Gaming, Online Safety, the Planet, and Cyber & AI.

UK utilities business are increasingly turning to data-driven technologies to address the key challenges they face. Water utilities businesses and energy providers are adopting AI analytics, sensors and other cutting-edge technologies, and the data they provide, to deliver smarter and more sustainable services to their customers. This Opencast talk brings together key players in the North East utilities space and our partners to share their experience of harnessing technology for better, more sustainable services.

The demos will be fun and interactive and applicable to people with little to no knowledge of AI, as well as those with more technical and in-depth knowledge. We will also feature new/trending tech where possible. 

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Demos will showcase real work Accenture has done with clients, as well as proofs of concept, other AI examples from other companies, and will give people the chance to have a bit of fun with some generative AI tools. For example, we will have a ‘video prompt game’ where people can suggest a prompt for an existing photo (a bit like a ‘caption this’ activity), and the tool will turn it into a 15-second video. These examples are both impressive and funny, and give an idea of the current maturity of Generative AI. We will also look to bring new devices like the Rabbit smartphone, iPads with demos they can interact with, and potentially other hardware as well.

Gartner predicts that AI Agents are set to make 15% of day-to-day work decisions autonomously by 2028 – they’re here to stay and are only going to get more prolific. However, their potential is inextricably linked to a very difficult challenge – safeguarding intelligent agents against unintended outcomes, errors and ever-present cyber threats. Agents are effectively a “black box” and determining why an agent makes a particular choice is near impossible, making transparency and trust a major issue.

This talk, featuring Opencast's Director of Technology Strategy Gordon Murray alongside User Research Practice Lead Marianne O’Loughlin, highlights the challenges, risks and dependencies and explores potential ways to ensure accuracy, transparency, security and ethical standards within agentic workflows.

“All I want to know is, what’s our gross profit for this work?”

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Answering simple questions can sometimes be really hard in business.  

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Reports which take 10s of hours to create, and are instantly out of date.

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Slower decision making, or paralysis simply waiting for the right data to make decisions.

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Why does this happen?

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Businesses have software which is storing data in silos – it simply doesn’t talk to each other.

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What happens next is lots of manual effort keeping it in sync, or just giving up.

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The real risk though? If it’s not connected already, how can you possibly leverage AI to make holistic assessments of the business, or drive holistic improvements?

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You’re destined to use AI in the business in a generic way, rather than a deep way which creates competitive advantage.

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The way to resolve this, is getting fundamentals right now.

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The solution is to create a strategy for tech, which involves an ‘integration layer’, designed to connect all data sources, and pipe it all into a business intelligence dashboard which tells you in real time how healthy your business is.

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Then, adding AI is way easier, and easier means speed.

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In this session, we will speak directly to business owners, to show how to drive innovative change around business intelligence, what you will need, and why it matters.

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The purpose of this is to create clarity from confusion, with a set of steps for those who do not want to wait any longer!

"What is Winning With Numbers? 

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Winning With Numbers is a structured and systemised number curriculum and learning platform that ensures children are fluent and confident with number by the age of ten.  

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Winning With Numbers was establised in the North East in 2022. 

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Too many children leave education without key knowledge and skills (DfE). 

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Winning With Numbers is an edtech programme that helps ensure all children are fluent and confident with number by the age of ten. 

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It runs a subscription model with schools as its main target audience and tutors and parents as a secondary target. 

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The Winning With Numbers curriculum identifies 300 small steps of progression and puts them in a straight-line sequence of learning making it easy for staff and parents to support children to move from one WIN to the next.  

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Each of the 300 WINs has a comprehensive suite of digital resources to be used in school and at home. The Winning With Numbers resources for all 300 WINs on the learning platform include:

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Subject knowledge training videos for staff  

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Sequential teaching videos and explicit instructions teaching videos  

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Online practice and retrieval questions  

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Online user feedback and support  

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Support videos for parents 

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Individual awards system 

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Whole school tracking       

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Winning With Numbers has thousands of users and we work with schools who want to boost their maths provision and upskill staff and support parents as they go. Winning With Numbers provides a complete package of training for staff, resources for lessons and assessment and support for parents.  

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Winning With Numbers founders, Ben Harding and Bethan Harding MBE are both experienced Headteachers and School Inspectors and have moved into the startup world! Both worlds equally intense but very different. There have been a number of learning journeys along the way as they have worked to bring entrepreneurship and education together!

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The aim of the proposed session will be to introduce and further discuss NEST’s core mission, which is based on the following principles:  

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1. To promote the region as the sustainable technology capital of the UK;

1. To network and share best practice in the development and application of sustainable technology solutions;

1. To help educate and raise standards in sustainability best practice across all businesses in the region; and

1. To engage with representative bodies including political leadership in the region to promote better integration between sustainable technology businesses and education.

The Facilitator & Panelists will provide a series of discussion points to highlight the benefit that these principles will bring to Partner Organisations and the broader public; essentially harnessing the power of Technology for Social and Environmental Good.

Held in the Decision Theatre at the Catalyst, this event is expected to compliment the festival day at the Data & AI Hub giving delegates an opportunity to step out of the conference and explore practical applications and demonstrations of Data & AI.  It is expected to run over the lunch period so as not to deprive delegates of the opportunity to attend as may other ev ents as possible.  Therefore it is suggested the showcase runs from 11:30 - 13;30 and the room hire form 11:00 - 14:00 to enable set up and strip down.

This session will summarise current trends, opportunities and risks within AI implementation. Focus will be placed on the whole life cycle of a Machine Learning or AI solution from data gathering to evaluation of the developed models. Through a number of case-studies the benefits of adopting Data Science and AI methods will be explored. Keynote presentation with two presenters.   

A collaborative approach to workshop learning where attendees can work with Maven and other industry experts and advisors to: 

• Understand the process and benefits of raising equity finance, navigating the complexities of business ownership.
• Highlight the common challenges and pitfalls when speaking to investors.
• Provide practical insights and investment readiness tools and resources.
• Introduce active growth and fundraising opportunities for local tech businesses.

It’s a simple format of keynote speaker / fireside chat / panel followed by high quality networking. The panel discussion will be on AI Ecosystem in the North East with a Startup, Eco system partner/academia and a VC and industry player hosted by Twin path ventures (our VC partner for London AI Breakfast). Followed by a local AI start up showcasing their product and then networking. 

Agile teams often struggle with communication between design and technical teams, leading to uncertainty and confusion. This can result in unsustainable time lags and broken team dynamics, which have social and economic impacts on projects. This workshop will introduce methods, including presentation visuals, workshop techniques, and interactive sessions, to explore ways of working that create sustainable team dynamics.

Prediction does not equal control. The path to value delivery is not smooth, and both businesses and people need to roll with the impact of AI, decentralised models, quantum processing and more. This session develops elements of critical thinking and flexible planning for an uncertain future.  

Can be expanded to a workshop format if your programme requires.  

Based on session delivered at SXSW 2025 by me and John Gauntt. Note this application is slightly late because the window was right across that event!

Led by Neil Wilson a partner in our Business Advisory team that works with early stage tech founders, our session would take the form of an interactive presentation with lots of time for audience participation and Q&A. 

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Key areas included are;

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• Income generation

• Revenue models

• Systems and processes

• Business structures

• Founder equity

• Types of funding and tax reliefs

Join Accenture for a thought provoking panel discussion around the impacts of Gen AI and how it's shaping the future! Some of our AI experts will be talking through the local and global impacts of AI along with some real life examples on how AI is shaping not just the technology sector, but the day to day lives of each of us.

The event will showcase the third sector’s best practice of bridging the gap between technology, accessibility, and communication. It will focus on the latest innovations and advancements of Tech for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Hearing Communities, and offer opportunity to get hands on with the interactive activities on the day.  

Product on the tyne will bring together product professionals from across the North-east to learn, share and network. The conference will welcome leading product experts, coaches and leaders along with with emerging voices at the forefront of cutting edge technology for a day of talks and practical workshops. 

New for 2025 the TechNExt Family Days will be held across the region for families to discover the amazing opportunities available in the region's tech sector.

Experts will explore the growing demand for green skills, highlighting the importance of reskilling and upskilling in renewable energy, circular economy, and sustainable practices. They will discuss workforce challenges, policy support, and practical steps businesses can take to thrive in a low-carbon economy.

82% of executives believe immersive technologies will be important to their organisation’s success. But, overcoming potential barriers to adoption is key to ensuring their long-term impact.  

In this talk, we explore how to unlock the power of XR to impact workforce training, business operations, and customer engagement.  

We’ll showcase real-world success stories of companies leveraging XR. Attendees will walk away with actionable strategies for seamlessly integrating these technologies, overcoming adoption barriers while ensuring scalability and ROI.

Join us for a day of activities exploring Data, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning with industry leaders from the region and beyond.

AI-generated voices are now nearly indistinguishable from human speech yet research shows that listeners still detect them 73% of the time. So, what’s missing?  

In this engaging session, we’ll explore how vocal performance coaching and direction can improve AI voice models - whether the goal is clear, efficient TTS for home assistants or emotionally expressive AI voices for creative projects.  

Drawing on real-world AI voice projects, including a large-scale TTS assistant and insights from Sonantic’s groundbreaking "Faith" AI voice, this talk will:

• Examine how prosody, breath, and vocal variation impact user engagement
• Discuss the role of direction in AI voice data capture—and why it matters
• Raise ethical questions about the future of AI voices—will users ever truly believe an AI voice?

The session will be interactive, discussion-led, and thought-provoking, designed for AI developers, voice engineers, and anyone interested in how technology and human expression intersect.

The march of AI is moving at an exponential pace.  The regulation to govern it isn't…

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AI is being deployed into every facet of modern day life. But there are fundamental considerations around privacy and security, copyright and IP, automated decision making, unconscious bias, risk and liability – the list goes on.

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The regulatory landscape needed to govern the use of AI and address such concerns is nowhere near in place.  But it will evolve, and at different speeds in different geographies.  

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In this session, Matt Cormack, Head of the Company Commercial team at leading law firm Ward Hadaway, will look into his crystal ball to explore where regulation is currently, what is influencing its change,  where it is headed and how businesses can futureproof their development or use of AI. 

Agile teams often face the challenge of non-technical stakeholders and decision makers being uncertain about AI's capabilities in projects. This workshop will introduce methods, including presentation visuals, workshop techniques, and interactive sessions, to explain AI and its use in projects and future services.

We would like to propose that we chair a panel event made up of leaders in the field identified by us and by the TechNext and Dynamo teams.  Ideally a range of established and new businesses.  We don't propose this has a legal angle, but that our role is as facilitator and chair.  Something on the lines of….

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Let's get excited about AI! At this panel event…:

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Hear from those innovators whose businesses are leading the charge in the race to exploit this exciting technology.

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Listen to use cases where it has had a transformative impact on the businesses who are using it.

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Learn from the experiences entrepreneurs have had in getting ahead, and staying ahead, in their respective markets.

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Avoid the pitfalls they might have had along the way, and appreciate the challenges that moving at pace in a new field has to funding and financing.

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Consider the potential for local businesses to enhance the North East's reputation as a leader in the tech space.

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In this session, Matt Cormack, Head of the Company Commercial team at leading law firm Ward Hadaway, will chair this panel debate featuring [A, B and C].

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Speakers, facilitators and panelists *

Matthew Cormack, Partner, Head of Company Commercial, and leader of the firm's Tech sector group at law firm Ward Hadaway

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Panel to be worked on together to celebrate the region's AI sector

Our focus in Northumberland will be on Sustainability and Innovation. We will hear from sustainable tech leaders from the region and further afield.

Join us for a dynamic panel discussion featuring investor managers from Northstar Ventures, Maven Capital, Northern Gritstone, and NatWest Bank. Discover what makes a compelling value proposition, the key attributes investors seek in a business, and the critical success factors for new ventures. Gain valuable insights from industry experts and learn how to position your startup for investment success.

2x Tech talks from local technical leaders. Can be flexible on date. https://www.devhubnorth.com/

CleanTech is driving a historic economic shift in the North East—but do businesses have the digital capabilities to seize the opportunity?  

As offshore wind, renewable energy, and green industries grow along the North East’s coast, businesses must embrace digital transformation to stay competitive. From AI-powered efficiency and data-driven decision-making to digital infrastructure and interoperability, the right tech strategy will define who thrives in this new economy.  

Join this expert panel discussion as industry leaders, digital transformation consultants, and sustainability pioneers explore:  

🌍 The Digital Foundations of Clean Growth – What skills and systems businesses need to integrate sustainability and scale operations.  

📊 Digital sustainability in North East - Why is the North East poised for massive growth  

🌱How to build more sustainable products - What is the carbon impact of development and AI  

🔄 Interoperability & Collaboration – Why open digital ecosystems and partnerships are essential for growth and innovation.  

⚡ Bridging the Digital Skills Gap – What businesses in the North East must do to attract, train, and retain top digital talent.

A collaborative approach to workshop learning where attendees can work with Maven and other industry experts and advisors to: 

• Understand the process and benefits of raising equity finance, navigating the complexities of business ownership.
• Highlight the common challenges and pitfalls when speaking to investors.
• Provide practical insights and investment readiness tools and resources.
• Introduce active growth and fundraising opportunities for local tech businesses.

A roundtable event on a specific tech related topic, similar to our successful event last year. 

The government wants to ensure maximum value and impact from citizen-facing digital programmes. But how can we deliver more with less – or even the same with less? And how can we stay focused on outcomes with real impact? Repeatable solutions like 'scaffolding', as well as AI done right, can help teams to deliver and accelerate the changes that are needed. This talk will hear from senior leadership at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) on what they want from programmes and highlight projects where 

Data is the backbone of digital transformation, and having a clear, scalable, and effective data strategy is critical. But where do you start? What tools and architectures should you use? And how do you ensure your strategy enables AI and machine learning innovation rather than becoming a bottleneck?  

This session, led by Steve Morland, CTO at Leighton, a software development business with deep experience in cloud-native data solutions, will explore the fundamentals of building a future-proof data strategy from both a business and technical perspective.  

In this session we'll explore:  

Where to start - Understanding your current data landscape and setting realistic objectives.  

What matters most - Defining key data capabilities, governance and aligning with business goals.  

What to use - The difference between databases, data lakes and data warehouses (and when to use each).  

How to execute - Building the right architecture, leveraging AI/ML and ensuring long-term scalability.

The event will showcase the Newcastle Deaf Centre's NDC's best practice of bridging gap between technology, accessibility, and communication via activities that include Tech for Health, Digital Technologies and AI. It will focus on the latest innovations and advancements in Tech, its importance in today's world and its benefits for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Hearing Communities. DC Make Some Noise: Take Courage With Tech! will also offer opportunity to get hands on with the interactive activities on the day.

Director Elliot Gonzo and Lead Unreal Engine Technical Artist Buse Simon chose CUBE Studio, a London based 7,500 sq. ft. full-service virtual production studio,  empowering leading production houses, agencies and Film/TV creators to surpass limits for world building and ICVFX through real-time graphics and virtual production for Goldie x Cas is Deads latest music video, "Still the Same". The format of our presentation will be through “Pitch”, as video/collage format production pipeline breakdown for pre-viz, VP prep, VP shoot details and some of the techniques used for the world building and digital human twin pipelines utilized for real-time environments, giving an in-depth overview to empower creative teams of varying sizes harness this technology.

• Introductions 
• Session aims
• A bit about you (tell us about you and your business)
• NICA/IOCT – how we/our clients use data and insights 
• What we do – user testing (with general public), surveys, human experience/UX design, creating dashboards
• Funded support and grant offering
• Breakout session – how does your organisation use data/insights, what have you learned, what’s missing?
• Feedback
• Next steps
• Close

The session will feature a short presentation and a panel discussion between Rightbrain AI and companies that have been using various AI tools to build AI-native apps. It will cover lessons learned from a year of building LLM-powered applications, common challenges and best-practice.  

From there, we will look at the applications of LLMs - what are they good for and what are they not good for. We will also ground this in the current state of the market and wider trends.

The session would be aimed at any type of tech business, or other type of business, that uses AI products - whether that is content creation, interactive legal assistants, text to speech tools,  copywriting, document creation, or anything else. We would cover:

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1. The AI Ownership Conundrum

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AI is creating billions of artifacts daily - text, images, code, music. BUT traditional IP frameworks weren't designed for non-human creators. 

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How can businesses be confident that they own the IP and data in what they create (using these tools) and that they are not infringing third party rights? 

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1. The Current Legal Landscape and Key Stakeholders

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Copyright traditionally requires human creativity, patent law demands human inventors. Trade mark protection focuses on consumer confusion. Jurisdictional differences create global compliance challenges.

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AI developers claim rights to system outputs, AI developers claim rights to system outputs, prompt engineers assert creative direction. Training data contributors demand attribution and compensation, end users expect ownership of what they "commission" and traditional content creators fear market disruption.

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So…where does this leave business owners who want to know where they stand?

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1. Training Data – the Foundation of Ownership Claims

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The role of data in AI output - what has the model been trained on? Who owns that data, is use of that data permitted?

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Are there copyright, trade mark or other IP infringement issues to worry about in terms of the content used to train the tool? If so, for whom is that a risk?

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1. Infringing Outputs 

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Does the output infringe copyright, trade mark rights or other IP?  Is the content similar to existing materials? Who is liable for infringement?

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Do any defences apply?

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1. Practical Guidance for AI Users

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Review the Terms of Service for all AI tools you use and obtain appropriate licences or assignments of IP rights.

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Document your creative processes carefully and keep detailed records,

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Implement clear processes within your business for the use of generative AI and consider labelling AI generated work.

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1. Practical Guidance for AI Providers

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Provide transparent disclosure around training data and give users clear terms of service about output ownership. 

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Keep detailed records of materials and data used to train AI models and consider opt-in models for creator content.

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1. Round up and questions. 

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Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping industries and workplaces; its influence extends beyond technology and economics—it is fundamentally changing the landscape of UK employment law and how employers and employees interact. This session will explore how AI is challenging traditional employment frameworks, raising critical questions about employee rights, workplace ethics, and the future of work.

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We'll dive into the following key topics:

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1. AI and Worker Classification: As automation and AI systems become more integrated into workplaces, there is an increasing blurring of lines between employees, contractors, and freelancers. We'll discuss how UK employment law must evolve to account for new types of work relationships that AI technology is fostering.
2. Data Protection and Privacy: With AI systems collecting vast amounts of personal data, we'll examine the intersection of AI and the UK's GDPR regulations. How can organizations ensure that AI-driven practices comply with privacy laws, and how does this impact employee monitoring and surveillance?
3. Discrimination and Bias in AI: AI systems, if not properly designed, can perpetuate biases—whether in hiring, promotions, redundancy exercises or performance evaluations. We'll explore the legal implications and risks, and specifically how UK laws address potential discrimination in AI decision-making.
4. The Future of Employment Contracts: As AI takes over more routine tasks, employees will increasingly take on higher-level roles. What does this mean for employment contracts? We'll consider how traditional contracts might need to adapt to accommodate AI in relation to flexible work arrangements, remote work, and the gig economy.
5. Health and Safety Concerns: AI and automation in the workplace raise concerns over mental health, job displacement, and retraining requirements. We'll analyse how the UK's legal framework can address these new workplace health and safety challenges.
6. Practical Tips: What practical steps should employers be taking to address these issues and ensure they are able to capitalise the benefits of AI whilst avoiding the legal potential legal pitfalls.

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By the end of this session, attendees will have a deeper understanding of the legal challenges and opportunities AI presents within the UK labour market, and how employers can navigate this new landscape to ensure fair, transparent, and compliant work environments.

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This presentation is essential for legal professionals, HR leaders, policymakers, and anyone interested in the future of work in an AI-driven world.

In this thought-provoking 45-minute keynote, we'll explore the impact algorithms have on our daily lives, tracing their evolution from early computer vision to advanced generative AI.  

We'll review the key innovations that made this possible and some of the limitations and ethical considerations associated with generative and predictive AI.  

We'll discuss DeepSeek's disruption of the AI industry, evaluate whether current AI reflects true advancement or another cycle of inflated expectations.  

In our final segment we’ll address the fascinating question of machine consciousness and its potential impact on the future of work.

Join us for the opening of TechNExt Festival 2025. Hear from inspirational speakers in tech, what's in store for festival week and lots moreTechNExt festival is a celebration of the North East's thriving technology sector.

Through a mixture of curated and community designed fringe events, TechNExt will serve as a showcase of the diversity, achievements and breadth of the tech sector in the North East. The festival aims to help drive the message that the North East is a region that is passionate about supporting, developing and growing its tech sector for the benefit of everyone.

Main Stage Conference - Monday 16 June (8.45am - 1.15pm) - Crowne Plaza, Newcastle

This year we are kicking off TechNExt25 with our Main Stage Conference. This half day event will feature a single stream of thought provoking conference talks from leaders in technology and related industries. Visit our website for more information.

Lunch is provided, and as part of our Good Festival Ambition, please note that all catering at this event will be vegetarian. All additional dietary requirements will also be catered for, please state your needs on the booking form.

Good Festival Ambition

The festival is planned as a Good Festival with ‘for good’ being a core value running through everything. This will ensure a focus on quality, inclusivity, diversity, accessibility, and sustainability.

As part of this ambition, we are offering a buddy system where attendees can select the option to be met by a friendly face from the TechNExt team or wider community on arrival. Your buddy would help you feel comfortable at the event perhaps by chatting over a coffee on arrival, introducing you to new faces, or help you understand more about the content of the event and what's planned that day. You can apply for a 'buddy' through the ticket purchase process.

We are also committed to minimising the impact of our events on the environment. We work closely with our clients, venues, suppliers and delegates to reduce the impact of our activity wherever possible. Last year, the festival's carbon from curated events was 7.49 tCO2e and we decided, as an ethical offset, to donate the equivalent carbon credit value to a North East environmental charity, Groundwork North East & Cumbria for their nature-based solutions programme. More measures will be intoduced this year, tracking the festival's carbon footprint once again, leading us to further reduce our impact and become carbon neutral in future years.

You will be asked to complete some questions about your planned travel which will help us create the carbon footprint for the festival.

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Refunds

Please note our ticket refund policy below:

Up to 12 weeks before the event starts - full refundMore than 8 weeks before the event starts, but less than 12 weeks - 50% refundLess than 8 weeks before the event starts - no refund

Join the Energy Central team and learn about the partnership is supporting innovation throughout Northumberland's offshore wind sector. Hear from:  

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• ORE Catapult who will be showcasing the DARE Centre which centres on Digital, Autonomous and Robotics Engineering as well as the TIGGOR programme

• Port of Blyth sustainability plans including the investment in their first electric crane and the new, first ever 5G innovation lab which is operating in Blyth, offering a unique digital offering to the Port.

• Energy Central Campus who will provide insight into the workforce of the future and discuss what the Learning Hub and Institute can offer.

• A business TBC

How do you do innovation in a responsible and user-centred way in the heavily regulated and scrutinised healthcare sector? Connecting into the State of Digital Government report recommendations and the short and longer-term innovation opportunities set out as part of the NHS England abolition announcement, this panel will dive into how we can be bold with data and service innovation, AI and sustainability in health and social care settings. The panel will focus on the key objective of our work – ensuring better outcomes for patients through technology.

Grant funding can be a game-changer for startups, but many founders don’t know where to start. This session will break down the process, where to find grants, how to apply, and what makes a winning bid, without the jargon. Expect to find out what grants are currently available, a mix of expert insights, real-world founder experiences, and practical advice. Grant funders, successful applicants, and bid writers will share their knowledge, making this an invaluable session for anyone looking to fund their business without giving away equity.

In this session, we’ll explore the strategy behind creating a truly joined-up government experience—and why getting data right is at the heart of it. We’ll unpack the key challenges and share real examples of how departments are tackling them, from building the National Data Library to shaping the future of government’s data strategy.

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You’ll hear why consistent data standards and interoperability are essential foundations—and how teams across CDDO, DfE, GDS, HMCTS, and DWP are already making progress.

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We’ll showcase the scale of the ambition, highlight the practical work underway, and shine a light on what it really takes to deliver connected, user-centred services across government.

A collaborative approach to workshop learning where attendees can work with Maven and other industry experts and advisors to: 

• Understand the process and benefits of raising equity finance, navigating the complexities of business ownership.
• Highlight the common challenges and pitfalls when speaking to investors.
• Provide practical insights and investment readiness tools and resources.
• Introduce active growth and fundraising opportunities for local tech businesses.

The civil service digital skills gap is a key challenge and priority for the government. This Opencast talk, based on our experience of working with government teams on sharing knowledge, offers ideas and approaches to navigate the skills challenge – as well as practical solutions to accelerate delivery. Drawing on Opencast's recent report on digital skills, we'll look at the latest agendas and highlight great examples of knowledge transfer into and with our government partners.

The event will explore the design and development of a novel smart phone application for healthcare management and service integration. It will explore the features, design choices, the importance of data ownership, the acquisition and AI navigation of patient data and the importance of creating service integration. It will be a four panel discussion including Chair and medical expertise with the software engineers of this pioneering application. The session will provide an overview of the current healthcare market and the need for efficiency in service provision. It will then explore in detail the design and development choices, including data examples and results, with the software developers of this pioneering app.

The Department of Health and Social Care, NHS and NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research) have identified priority areas suitable for proactive horizon scanning.  

These are technologies with the potential to be game-changing: quantum technologies, bioengineering, wearables and artificial intelligence. While the innovative nature of these technologies can pose challenges to downstream decision-making, proactive horizon scanning can assist in identifying these technologies as well as their distinctive characteristics to help support the decision-making process and system readiness.  

In this session we will hear from Pauline Addis and Kate Lanyi about the particular game changing technologies they are researching. They will highlight the benefits they offer as well as any challenges they may throw up.  

We will then hear from Patience Kunoga about the considerations of ealth Inequality and Inequity when it comes to these game-changing technologies and what we need to do as a collective to combat.  

The group will come together for a relaxed panel discussion and audience questions.

Session Title: AI in Action: Real-World Use Cases  

Description:  

This engaging session will explore how businesses are leveraging AI for automation, customer engagement, and predictive analytics. We'll showcase real-world case studies, highlighting the successes, challenges, and lessons learned from implementing AI solutions across various industries.  

The format will include a panel discussion featuring industry experts, followed by an interactive Q&A session. Attendees will gain practical insights into how AI is transforming operations and driving business growth, along with actionable strategies for overcoming common implementation challenges.  

We aim to provide a space for learning, discussion, and networking, where participants can explore the future of AI in business and share their experiences.

A keynote session to highlight the climate crisis is not just an environmental challenge - it is a systemic failure of an economic model built on perpetual growth, resource extraction and financial speculation. 

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Whilst mainstream approaches to Decarbonisation focus on green industrial expansion, clean technology and market incentives, they often fail to address the fundamental issue: an economy that demands ever-increasing production and consumption will always exceed ecological limits, regardless of how “green” [or “clean”] it appears.

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The North East stands at a crossroads. It can pursue the well-worn path of competing for investment and technological development in a race for “green growth,” or it can embrace a more radical, resilient alternative - one that prioritises well-being over GDP, sufficiency over expansion and ecological balance over corporate profitability. 

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Instead of chasing innovation for innovation’s sake, we must ask: how do we design an economy that enables communities to thrive within planetary boundaries?

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Through seven "interventions", this keynote presents a post-growth vision for the North East - one that redefines prosperity, prioritises local resilience and builds a truly Just and Sustainable future beyond the constraints of the growth paradigm.

Join us for an insightful workshop on MLOps, where we'll explore the crucial steps of deploying machine learning models into production. This workshop will cover practical techniques and best practices for ensuring your models are not only functional but also robust and scalable. We'll start with a brief introduction to MLOps and its importance in the machine learning lifecycle. By the end of this workshop, you'll have a solid understanding of the end-to-end deployment process, enabling you to take your models from development to production efficiently.

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This workshop is ideal for data scientists, ML engineers, and anyone interested in learning about production-ready model deployment. Code will be kept to a minimum, however some example code in R and Python will be provided via GitHub for anyone interested. This workshop will be delivered by Myles Mitchell, a Principal Data Scientist @ Jumping Rivers Ltd.

TBC

Get the 20 June in the diary for our Tech Startup Hub where we'll have a packed day of activities for Tech Startups at all stages of development.

"Data Minimisation: Can it Save the Planet?" tackles the urgent issue of data's environmental impact within AI and data-driven tech. This session, highly relevant to a Data & AI themed space, examines the challenges of balancing climate commitments with the realities of data growth.". We'll examine GDPR's data minimisation principle, exploring its role in carbon reduction and efficiency.

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Join Luke Beckley, DPO, Head of Privacy & Data Governance at Corella (and self-proclaimed Data Provocateur), and Morgan Attias, Product Innovation Manager at Infotel, for a dynamic presentation and Q&A. Luke brings his expertise in data privacy and governance, challenging conventional data paradigms, while Morgan contributes insights on product innovation and system efficiency.

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The format includes an engaging presentation, followed by a live Q&A via a barcode system. We'll present data-backed insights on data processing and energy use, offering practical steps for organisations to adopt data minimisation. Key topics: mapping data to carbon footprints, streamlining audits, and improving data governance.

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Expect a blend of theory and real-world examples, empowering attendees to take data responsibility. We'll discuss data quantity vs. quality, and regulatory compliance's role in sustainability. Prepare for a thought-provoking discussion on data minimisation's potential for a sustainable future.

The session will look at how SMEs across multiple sectors and regions can take advantage of the skills and expertise at the Hartree National Centre for Digital Innovation (HNCDI) SME Hubs. The work carried out by the regional hubs enables small and medium-sized businesses to enhance productivity and gain a competitive advantage through the adoption of advanced digital technologies such as data analytics, visual computing and AI.  

There will be an introduction to the Hartree National Centre for Digital Innovation and the  Hartree Centre SME Hubs. We will outline what we do as a collaborative to support regional SMEs in the areas of Data Science and AI and types of assistance we offer within the programme, focussing on the positive impact this is having across organisations. This will be followed by three presentations from a business from each of the hubs (North East Hub, Northern Ireland Hub and Cardiff Hub). Each business will have a 15 minute slot. This would give a session length of 1 hour.

A panel event hosted by Blu Sky, with three north east entrepreneurs who have successfully sold and exited their businesses. We’ll dig into preparation, planning, the processes and the practicalities. We’ll also discuss individual motivations and the emotional journey. If you want to understand the key components of a successful business sale then this panel is for you.  

Panelists will include:

• Dave Gibson, Co-founder and Chairman of Blu Sky Chartered Accountants
• Ron Ashtiani - Founder who exited Atomhawk
• Ed Bartlett - CEO of HiComply, formerly exited Kykloud

The session will involve:  

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1. An introduction to the method slid deck
2. Basic skills building building from instructions
3. Free building in response to a question to be clarified by TechNext
4. Creating a landscape creating models and linking them
5. Reflect on the outcomes discussion
6. Revisit specific sections / questions build again
7. Build again if required
8. Reflect / close out

A collaborative approach to workshop learning where attendees can work with Maven and other industry experts and advisors to: 

• Understand the process and benefits of raising equity finance, navigating the complexities of business ownership.
• Highlight the common challenges and pitfalls when speaking to investors.
• Provide practical insights and investment readiness tools and resources.
• Introduce active growth and fundraising opportunities for local tech businesses.

Design Talks is an inclusive event that welcomes designers and creatives from various backgrounds and disciplines to come together, share their ideas and experiences, and learn from one another. 

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Our goal is to create a warm and welcoming environment where attendees can learn, share, and grow both personally and professionally.

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At Design Talks, we understand the importance of staying up-to-date with the latest trends, tools, and techniques in the ever-evolving world of design. That's why we provide a platform for creatives to expand their knowledge and make new connections.

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Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting your design career, Design Talks has something for you. 

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Our speakers are pros in their fields and provide valuable insights and advice on a range of topics related to design.

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We're committed to creating a space where everyone feels welcome, respected, and valued. We believe that by bringing together people from different backgrounds and perspectives, we can create a more vibrant and innovative design community.

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So if you're a creative looking to connect with other like-minded individuals and stay ahead of the curve in the world of design, we invite you to join us at our next Design Talks event.

In the green economy, businesses need to evidence their sustainability credentials, but without the right data, where do they even begin?  

Data is the key to measuring, optimising, and scaling sustainability efforts—but how do you use it effectively? This 30-minute workshop is designed for business stakeholders who want to level up in sustainability but don’t know where to start.  

Key Discussion Points:

• What digital sustainability means & why data is essential
• How to collect, track & analyse sustainability data without complexity
• Simple tools & frameworks to integrate data into your business operations
• How to use data for compliance, efficiency, and impact measurement
• Data for Good – How AI, automation, and predictive analytics can drive sustainability in operations.

After the session, you’ll receive a practical guide outlining key steps and best practices to start your data-driven sustainability journey.

This session will explore the possible use-cases for technology in the context of sustainability, which should be useful for both start-ups and established companies alike.  The presentation will focus on the risk and compliance aspects of impact reporting and greenwashing risk management, from both a legal and commercial aspect.  It will be sector agnostic and will be useful to a range of organisations, from manufacturing to financial services.  The session will also touch on the environmental impacts of technology and how organisations should be mindful when using tech tools and AI.

In an increasingly digital world, traditional in-person CBT therapy remains out of reach for many, whether that be due to distance, mobility challenges, or accessibility barriers. We knew there had to be a better way to give people the treatment they deserve. That’s why, in 2024, we launched Boundless—a breakthrough software designed to make XR therapy as simple and seamless as a Zoom call. With Boundless, even the most remote patients can access the support, care, and connection they deserve, redefining what’s possible in mental health. At this event, we’ll share how XR is transforming therapy, the challenges we’ve overcome, and why immersive technology is the future of accessible healthcare. We’d love the opportunity to speak and showcase how innovation can break down barriers to care.

There’s £trillions pouring into climate tech, but the spotlight is always on the headline acts – EVs, solar, and carbon capture. Meanwhile, huge gaps remain in the systems that will actually make Net Zero work.  

The shift is already underway, and the founders who focus on the overlooked but critical areas will be the ones who win.  

Amy Mooney, clean heat founder of Mutha Cuva, breaks down why the UK’s Net Zero plan rests on fragile foundations, where the next wave of climate tech investment is headed, and the hidden startup opportunities waiting to be seized. No fluff. Just real, untapped potential – and how to get ahead of it.

Peter Bull, co-founder of Cluarantonn helping new or existing podcasters and Microsoft MVP for .NET and Windows Development, is hosting this workshop aimed at beginners or experienced developers to build a Podcast AI with Blazor, part of .NET from Microsoft, to generate episode ideas or anything else using the freely available AI models you can experiment with on GitHub Models.  

The workshop will begin with an overview and getting setup for Blazor, including installing .NET and Visual Studio Code on Windows or Mac. You’ll also learn how to use or create a free GitHub Account to be able to access the AI models on GitHub Models.  

Then the workshop will guide you step-by-step through creating a Blazor project that integrates an AI model using GitHub Models to not only build a Podcast AI that generates episode ideas but also form the basis of generating anything else using AI!  

For the workshop you’ll need to bring a Windows or Mac Laptop that you can install applications on, but you’ll be told what to install and how. You’ll need details of a GitHub Account if you have one or access to your email if you don’t to create one.

Uncertainty is everywhere and, in 2025, you might be wondering how much time to spend on a five year strategy. Who knows what is around the corner? 

People are leaving, taking institutional knowledge with them; AI is replacing functions and muddying the water when it comes to careers; tariffs, taxes and an unpredictable global landscape makes it difficult to forecast – And in the face of uncertainty and unpredictability, we all want to be more diverse, more sustainable and more secure.  

Fallon Taylor and Dawn Newman from the Agile Business Consortium believe that Business Agility is the answer to these problems and more.  

Join our North East team to find out how the Framework for Business Agility (FBA) could unlock your ability to work with AI, rather than against it, capitalise on uncertainty and overcome challenges... all without a wasted 5 year plan.  

The session will start with an overview of the problems, with some examples of what happens when things go wrong.  

We’ll talk about AI and how it can be harnessed for good, enhancing roles rather than replacing them and how it can provide support through additional capacity, insight and work hours – and we’ll explain how Governance for Business Agility could help adoption and use of AI, and to keep us safe! 

Next we’ll move on to the impact of the economy, AI (again) and flexible working on career development, succession planning and skills.  As a careers and employability advisor, Dawn will talk about common hurdles for individuals and Fallon will talk to the organisational impact of these changes, before we explain how Business Agility can make these problems into opportunities for skills development, staff retention and navigating difficult financial landscapes with your team.  

After working through recruitment, retention and reporting issues, Fallon and Dawn will explain how Business Agility can improve diversity, increase confidence and instil resilience into your systems, people and processes through incremental implementation and improvement before signposting to free resources and support.  

This session will look at how your start up can be protected in respect of using data, developing and commercialising intellectual property, and what potential investors are looking for in respect of sensible risk management and governance.  

We will look at your first relationships - with your co-founders, your first customers, your first employees and your suppliers.  

Ensuring you start off correctly means that you are ready for investment and a future exit, along with ensuring your business can come through challenges as robustly as possible.

Tech Talent Live will be the largest tech and digital-related careers fair in the region, curated and delivered by Dynamo North East.  

This year’s theme, ‘Opportunities for All’, focuses on three key areas:

• Access for Everyone – Breaking down barriers to ensure everyone in the North East, regardless of background, has access to tech education, training, and career opportunities.
• Skills for Tomorrow – Empowering the North East’s workforce with the knowledge and tools needed to succeed in an ever-evolving digital economy.
• Pathways to Prosperity – Showcasing diverse routes into tech careers, from apprenticeships and coding bootcamps to mentorships and industry partnerships.

Applied Creativity – AI, Innovation and You

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Overview

Applied Creativity – AI, Innovation, and You is a dynamic one-hour keynote or a two-hour interactive workshop designed to inspire, engage and practically demonstrate how creative thinking can be combined with artificial intelligence to revolutionise problem-solving within forward-thinking organisations.

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A framework for creative thinking, Applied Creativity draws on neuroscience, Synectics and practical AI tools (LLMs & GANs) to help people accelerate their creativity and leaders get more from their teams. This session uses compelling stories and interactive experiences to inspire attendees to overcome creative barriers and drive sustainable innovation.

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Why Applied Creativity?

“Our heads are round to allow our thoughts to change direction.” — Francis Picabia

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The human brain is the ultimate problem-solving machine. Yet, most fail to use it to its full potential. From the moment we are born, we demonstrate astonishing ability—learning to walk and mastering language—before stepping into a classroom, where, instead of flourishing, we are systematically conditioned to recognise our limitations.

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The workplace is no different. How often have you sat in meetings where colleagues compete for the ‘best’ idea, talking past one another rather than listening? Where your ideas are dismissed, innovation is stifled and frustration takes hold.

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We have the potential to achieve more, individually and collectively. AI accelerates this potential, but tools alone are not enough. We need a methodology. Applied Creativity provides it.

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Example Session Structure 

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Engaging Opening Story 

Relatable storytelling highlighting typical innovation roadblocks in tech organisations.

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Introduction to Applied Creativity and AI as powerful problem-solving tools.

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Interactive Demonstration 

Walk through Applied Creativity methodology that uses group dynamics and AI:

Understanding: Frame problems clearly to identify overlooked perspectives.

Speculation: Demonstrate creative excursions using metaphors and analogies.

Force Fit: Show how unrelated ideas can be creatively combined into actionable viewpoints.

Developing Viewpoints: validating and evaluating ideas towards solutions.

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Audience Engagement (proposed)

Invite audience members to select real-time challenges.

Demonstrate where and how to introduce AI can rapidly generate novel ideas to explore.

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Inspirational Close 

Provide clear, actionable insights and access to practical AI toolkits for immediate application.

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Real-World Challenges (two-hour workshop version)

Each attendee is asked to bring a challenge to the session.

The entire cohort is introduced to the Applied Creativity framework.

The cohort is broken down into small groups of 5 to 7 people.

Each selects a challenge to address, and roles and responsibilities are agreed upon.

The groups work through the four-step process (understanding, speculation, force fit, and viewpoints) using LLM (text) and GAN (image generation) AI at key points.

Each group shares what they have learned with the wider cohort.

Benefits of the Session

Practical Innovation: Attendees learn actionable steps that can increase innovation.

Immediate Impact: Demonstrates real-time problem-solving capabilities of human creativity enhanced by AI.

Cultural Transformation: Provides techniques that embed creativity into organisational practices.

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Ideal Audience

Tech professionals, innovators, team leaders, startup founders and decision-makers passionate about driving innovative solutions efficiently and sustainably.

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Why This Matters for TechNExt 2025

This session aligns perfectly with TechNExt’s vision to champion sustainability through innovation and practical AI. Participants will leave inspired, empowered and equipped to solve their most pressing challenges by fostering a culture of continuous innovation and practical problem-solving.

Speaker/Facilitator

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Des Kennedy

An experienced professional in strategic design, communications and organisational development, Des provides expertise to leadership across a diverse range of sectors. A creative consultant, OKR coach and critical thinker, whether helping align organisations with their strategic goals, positioning businesses for success or spearheading innovation, he brings a wealth of knowledge and high-impact contributions to any project he undertakes.

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Mobile: 07710 775771

Email: hello@deskennedy.com

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This year we are kicking off TechNExt25 with our Main Stage Conference. This half day event will feature a single stream of thought provoking conference talks from leaders in technology and related industries.   

Lunch is provided, and as part of our Good Festival Ambition, please note that all catering at this event will be vegetarian. All additional dietary requirements will also be catered for, please state your needs on the booking form.

An exploration of the intersect of UCD and AI, and how to ensure users get maximum value and experience from AI. In this practical talk, Opencast specialists and our partners will explore how and when to leverage the value of AI for the benefit of the user, including making the right decisions about AI in service delivery, and the idea of 'pairing' with AI to augment and support delivering  services that meet users' needs.

A masterclass on what market strategy is, why it is typically overlooked and how to make sure it isn't in your tech start up. From business goals through product roadmap, taking in positioning and messaging, business models and aligning with sales, culminating in how we can develop a marketing plan that is fit for purpose in the real world. This masterclass includes real world examples, and will be highly interactive with participants. At the end of the masterclass, participants will understand the questions they need to ask and answer to make sure they aren't throwing money, time and effort and purely tactical promotional marketing, but actually have a strategy to engage customers and the wider audience with products and messaging that resonate.

The North East is at the cutting edge of Immersive technologies such as XR, VR and AR with centres of national significance including our hosts at PROTO.

Please note the Immersive Hub is still adding sessions and the programme is still subject to change.

With over 25+ years of experience in the tech industry, James Bunting and Chris Wilds have witnessed first-hand the evolution of the North East’s digital and technology sector. Its challenges, breakthroughs and defining moments. In this candid conversation, the pair will reflect on the lessons they’ve learned from building, running and supporting successful tech businesses across the region and beyond.  

From growing high-performing teams to navigating disruption, spinning out ventures and staying ahead of rapid technological change, this session will provide practical insight into the decisions, mindsets and values that have shaped their journey and the businesses they've led.  

Looking ahead, James and Chris will also share their thoughts on the future of the North East tech scene, including the trends, opportunities, and potential threats they see on the horizon. Expect an honest and engaging session filled with reflections, storytelling, and thoughtful predictions, plus advice for the next generation of leaders, founders and tech professionals.

Experience the excitement of a pitching session featuring four student pre-seed start-ups. Each team will be interviewed by the host before facing the scrutiny of our investor panel. We are offering cash prizes to each team, along with the opportunity to pitch to investors at a later date.

One-person 'unicorns' - will it ever be a thing?  

The jury is still out on that one, but there's no disputing the accelerative impact AI has had on the startup/business landscape - completely rewriting how efficient and lean founding teams can be. Lovable, Europe's fastest-ever growing startup hit $4m ARR within just 4 weeks with only 15 employees - a shining example of a new wave of AI-first startups making a huge impact with small teams.  

In this session, we'll be exploring AI's potential for enabling a new wave of non-technical founders in turning their bright ideas into real-world, tangible tech products, without knowing how to code. With much of the world's knowledge now only a few prompts away, AI has the capacity to quickly fill knowledge gaps to a reasonable level, boosting founder agency to achieve more with less.  

We'll be looking at how different AI tools can support with the many milestones of a startup, acting as a founding team to aid with; problem identification/validation and audience understanding; solution planning, branding and design; prototype development; through to product launch and marketing.  

If you've ever had the desire to explore building a tech startup but not had the money or know-how to start - then this is the session for you. The landscape is changing, with technology democratising capability and access. Come along and find out how.

The key theme will be around the common challenges businesses face when it comes to achieving widespread data literacy and democratisation, and how organisations can alleviate those issues by effectively upskilling their workforce in data-related skills through data apprenticeships. This includes tackling issues like varying levels of existing skills, resistance to change, lack of clear data strategies, and the need for ongoing support and development.  

By showcasing real-world examples and success stories, the session will highlight the benefits of investing in data apprenticeships to bridge the data skills gap, empower employees to make data-driven decisions, and foster a data-centric culture. Attendees will gain valuable insights into how to leverage data apprenticeships to drive innovation, improve operational efficiency, and gain a competitive edge in the data-driven economy.  

The format will be a panel discussion including a Baltic host, a Baltic data specialist, and a guest Speaker and apprentice from Baltic's Employer Partner Network (TBC). The delivery:  

Baltic Host  - Why are data skills and training are becoming increasingly important in today’s working world?  

Baltic Data Specialist - What challenges do organisations experience when faced with a lack of data literacy and democratisation? How will investing in data upskilling benefit them?  

Host – Summary on how data apprenticeship works.  

Guest Speaker - Why did they originally decide to invest in data upskilling? How successful has this been and what benefits have they seen as a result?  

Apprentice: How has the apprenticeship experience been? What learned skills have they applied in the workplace?  

Q&A

This session will feature a screening of our film exploring the hidden sustainability impact of AI, cloud storage, and unstructured data.  

The expert panel will discuss how the tech industry might tackle digital waste, data inefficiency, and drive greener AI adoption in line with TechNExt’s Data and AI and Sustainability themes.  

Agenda:  

13.00 - 13.20pm: Welcome and nibbles  

13.20 - 13.50pm: Premiere of film, "Data's Untold Story: The AI Energy Crisis"  

13.50 - 14.20pm: Panel discussion  

14.20 - 14.45pm: Networking  

Key Takeaways for the film:  

The Hidden Cost of Data & AI:  

• Unused data is driving up energy consumption, creating an overlooked sustainability crisis.  

• AI’s demand for power is increasing—without smarter data practices, its environmental impact will spiral.  

From Innovation to Accountability:  

• Businesses must rethink data storage and AI usage to reduce waste and carbon footprint.  

• Sustainable data strategies can cut costs, improve efficiency, and drive responsible innovation.  

Solving the AI Energy Challenge:  

• Companies have the tools to make AI and cloud computing greener—so why aren’t they using them?  

• The tech industry must step up before data inefficiency becomes a climate disaster.

We will have a range of talks, including House of Lords speaker - Lord Ranger of Northwood talking about AI in Government; Workday UK Lead Janna Hagen talking about 'Digital Workforce of the Future'; and then hearing from our Scrumconnect leadership team and launching our very first digital academy.

Join us for TechNExt's Industry Dinner at Whitley Bay's iconic Spanish City!TechNExt festival is a celebration of the North East's thriving technology sector.

Through a mixture of curated and community designed fringe events, TechNExt will serve as a showcase of the diversity, achievements and breadth of the tech sector in the North East. The festival aims to help drive the message that the North East is a region that is passionate about supporting, developing and growing its tech sector for the benefit of everyone.

Industry Dinner - Tuesday 17 June (6.30pm - 10.30pm) - Spanish City, Whitley Bay

Join peers, tech entrepreneurs, and business leaders from across the North East for an evening of connection and conversation. Enjoy a three-course dinner accompanied by arrival and table drinks.

Menu

Starter - Summer SaladMain Course - Trenchers Vegetable Goan Curry, Sticky Coconut Rice, Pak Choi, Crispy Shallot (0.69kg eCO2), or Traditional Cod & Chips, Lemon & Tartare Sauce (1.14kg eCO2)Dessert - Sorbet with shortbreadAs part of our Good Festival Ambition, you'll notice we’ve chosen items with low carbon footprint and calculated the carbon footprint of each main course to help you make an informed selection.

Special thanks to our Industry Dinner sponsors for their support:

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Good Festival Ambition

The festival is planned as a Good Festival with ‘for good’ being a core value running through everything. This will ensure a focus on quality, inclusivity, diversity, accessibility, and sustainability.

We are also committed to minimising the impact of our events on the environment. We work closely with our clients, venues, suppliers and delegates to reduce the impact of our activity wherever possible. Last year, the festival's carbon from curated events was 7.49 tCO2e and we decided, as an ethical offset, to donate the equivalent carbon credit value to a North East environmental charity, Groundwork North East & Cumbria for their nature-based solutions programme. More measures will be intoduced this year, tracking the festival's carbon footprint once again, leading us to further reduce our impact and become carbon neutral in future years.

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You will be asked to complete some questions about your planned travel which will help us create the carbon footprint for the festival.

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Refunds

Please note our ticket refund policy below:

Up to 12 weeks before the event starts - full refundMore than 8 weeks before the event starts, but less than 12 weeks - 50% refundLess than 8 weeks before the event starts - no refund

IP is an important part of any tech startups journey. All tech startups own IP but they often don't know what they should do about it. This can sometimes be catastrophic as by the time they try and protect their IP, it can be too late. This session would give startups an introduction into the basics of IP (including patents, trade marks, and designs), including how to identify the IP they might have, how they could best protect that IP, and what they should do with their IP. This session would aim to give startups the awareness they need to make the most of and leverage their IP and to help them create a tailored IP strategy for their business.    

Part call-to-arms and part practical guide, this engaging and thought-provoking session explores why the AI industry urgently needs diverse voices to overcome biases and blind spots. Using real-world examples like racially-biased sentencing AI and healthcare algorithms inaccurately analysing menstrual data, Laura will demonstrate the critical importance of diversity. She'll highlight concerns about AI power consolidating within a few large, private companies as academic contributions diminish (drawing from recent Stanford AI Index and Epoch AI research).  

The session will also address practical challenges facing smaller organisations, such as limited access to computing resources, showcasing innovative companies like Gensyn that are democratising AI infrastructure. Additionally, attendees will be prompted to think deeply about the importance of participating in crucial regulatory consultations - such as the recent UK government discussions on AI copyright protections and proposed use of NHS health data for AI development.  

Finally, Laura will underline why AI adoption and customisation aren't exclusive to big businesses. Through inspiring local examples of small businesses successfully developing their own AI pilots on modest budgets, she'll emphasise why it's vital for the North East region (and others like it) to engage now, ensuring our region stays competitive and forward-thinking.

AI is exploding into every area of business, streamlining processes and saving time. But managing expectations from stakeholders of what does and doesn't work is hard. "Can AI automate data extraction and data entry? How do we handle hallucinations? Can we make it perfect?" These questions regularly get asked, and answering them, particularly if the stakeholders are slightly less technically literate, can be a minefield. In this session, I will cover some of the real life examples I've seen of this in action, along with suggestions on things to consider, and approaches to take, to help tackle this problem.

In this session, we will delve into HydrologiqOS, a comprehensive platform developed by Hydrologiq to simplify and accelerate the adoption of hydrogen-powered generators for off-grid applications.

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HydrologiqOS manages all aspects of hydrogen generator deployment, including planning, fuel logistics, system deployment, and remote monitoring. The platform's IoT-enabled applications provide real-time insights into power usage, hydrogen consumption, and system performance. This ensures that users can efficiently track and optimise their energy operations while maintaining safety and compliance.

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The session will feature insights from Hydrologiq's team, where we will discuss the challenges businesses face when replacing diesel-powered off-grid systems. We will walk through a real-world scenario that demonstrates how HydrologiqOS effectively addressed key issues in a specific deployment. Showcasing how the platform's monitoring hardware and edge software enhance operational efficiency and reduce fuel waste, and ultimately how our digital-first approach facilitates a smooth transition to cleaner hydrogen solutions.

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In addition, we will explore how the same technology can be applied to the supply side, enabling an efficient supply chain operation. We will also highlight our application that assists in designing compliant hydrogen sites, ensuring that all deployments meet necessary regulations and standards.

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The format of the talk will be a presentation with the chance for Q&A. The presentation may last between 30 - 40 mins, allowing time for Q&A. There will be either 1 or 2 speaks, the confirmed speaker will be Adam Ayre-Storie. I also think this talk could also fit into the Tech Startup Hub.

Join peers, tech entrepreneurs, and business leaders from across the North East for an evening of connection and conversation. Enjoy a three-course dinner accompanied by arrival and table drinks.  

Menu 

• Starter - Summer Salad
• Main Course - Trenchers Vegetable Goan Curry, Sticky Coconut Rice, Pak Choi, Crispy Shallot (0.69kg eCO2), or Traditional Cod & Chips, Lemon & Tartare Sauce (1.14kg eCO2)
• Dessert - Sorbet with shortbread

As part of our Good Festival Ambition, you'll notice we’ve chosen items with low carbon footprint and calculated the carbon footprint of each main course to help you make an informed selection.

Complete your festival week the right way. TechNExt invites you to an informal festival party at the iconic BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Arts. It’s a moment to revel in the remarkable achievements of the North East tech sector while meeting and catching up with fellow tech enthusiasts and attendees from across the UK.  

Food is provided, and as part of our Good Festival Ambition, please note that all catering at this event will be vegetarian. All additional dietary requirements will also be catered for, please state your needs on the booking form.

Learn how Magnitude Biosciences have identified a key challenge in their research, leveraged innovative technologies to develop their idea, and created a compelling value proposition. Discover their strategies for scaling the team and prospecting sales. The session includes a presentation, followed by a Q&A with the host and audience."

Northumberland County Council have commissioned legal and commercial advisors to help us develop a procurement approach that seeks to use Local Authority heat loads (primarily leisure centres) as “anchor customers” to stimulate private sector investment in heat networks, where commercially viable, in up to 8 towns across the county.   

This is an information session to learn more and ask questions about our proposed approach.

In this workshop, we’ll walk through common fundraising terms, unpacking increasingly important (and frankly, ridiculous) jargon. We’ll begin by providing a quick recap on types on investor and wrap up by looking at how investor ready you are, and how we can help.

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We’ll cover specific terms around:

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• What an investor’s “investment thesis” is
• Your target market
• Discussing your financial model
• Talking about your business bottom line
• What is a CAP table and shareholder terms you need to know
• Specific deal terminology
• Legal documents
• Bonus terms

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Follow up access to finance/investor readiness support for tech businesses will be available after the session as part of the Innovate UK NE Digital Technology Launchpad programme, and/or the Pathways to Funding programme, funded by North East Combined Authority.

Do you love asking questions or exploring problems with other people? Can you see the potential for using data, AI and tech for social good, but want to learn more about how to achieve it in practice?  

If so, hooray! This event is for you.  

Join us for a half day hackathon designed to explore a ‘How Might We’ social impact question, through the use of data, curiosity and collaboration.  

Bring your laptop, an open mind and prepare to get curious.

Leveraging AI & Data for Scalable Tech Startups

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Session Type: Talk

Speaker: Wale Ameen, Co-founder/CEO of Cush

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Session Detail:

In today’s fast-paced digital economy, data and AI have become the backbone of successful tech startups. From product development to customer acquisition and operational efficiency, leveraging AI-driven analytics can give startups a competitive edge while ensuring sustainable growth.

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In this session, Wale Ameen, Co-founder and CEO of Cush, will explore how AI, data analytics, and low-code solutions like Power Platform are transforming the way startups operate. The talk will provide practical insights into how early-stage companies can harness AI-driven insights to make smarter decisions, optimize resources, and drive revenue growth.

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Key discussion points will include:

Data-Driven Decision Making – How to leverage AI-powered analytics tools like Power BI to uncover trends, enhance customer experience, and predict business outcomes.

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Scaling with AI & Automation – How startups can integrate AI into business processes to reduce manual workload, improve efficiency, and streamline workflows.

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Low-Code & No-Code Solutions – How platforms like Power Platform enable startups to rapidly build scalable applications without extensive technical expertise.

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Sustainability & AI – The role of AI in helping startups adopt sustainable business models, optimize energy consumption, and drive impact.

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This session is designed for startup founders, product managers, and tech enthusiasts looking to explore AI’s potential in scaling their businesses. Whether building a fintech platform, an immersive tech solution, or a data-driven product, this talk will offer actionable strategies and real-world applications to accelerate every startup’s growth.

Presentation by Nick Gray of Weightmans LLP, followed by a Q&A / round table discussion, on the steps to take ahead of a business undertaking its first investment round. 

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Nick is heavily involved in the North East's Venture Capital ("VC") scene,  acting for both investee businesses as well as VC/Angel investors, so is able to provide insight into the build up, as well as what Founder's can expect as part of the investment process itself. 

“People will forget what you said, and what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel” (Maya Angelou)

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In today’s fast-paced, technology-first world, this famous quote reminds us that people’s decision making is rarely driven by ‘rational thought’ or by exclusively considering the features or technical details of our latest innovation - however impressive they are!

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Research shows we are most likely to influence people’s purchase decisions and behaviour through a combination of the:

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moods we induce in them (Happy shoppers spend more!) 

emotions we invoke (and the associations these help create in their minds)

feelings we awaken (through the compelling stories we tell)

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…And the memorable, positive experiences that our technology-led solutions deliver to positively impact their everyday lives.

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Through this lens, every aspect of brand communications becomes a powerful opportunity to persuade people to buy into your product & service, both emotionally & commercially.

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In this part masterclass session (and TBC - part Q&A / fireside chat) we’ll draw on insight and best practice from sectors as wide ranging as consumer goods to construction, as we explore some of the underlying psychological principles of effective brand communication and techniques we can employ to bring real emotion into our comms to make sure we get noticed and chosen by our target audiences, when it matters most. 

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So whether you’re starting out or scaling up, this session will give you practical insight to help you plan, design and ‘activate’ more effective communications that engage internal and external audiences - Building your brand with real value to drive growth.

In this practical session, we will look at how AI is currently regulated and the plan for regulation for the UK in the coming months and years.  This will include look at how the EU and other countries have approached regulations of this almost constantly changing area of tech.  

We will also take a practical look at how AI can be used in your business while also seeking to ensure personal data is used correctly and your intellectual property is protected.  

We will give guidance on how you should deal with AI in your data protection documentation and your contracts with customers and suppliers, and the approach to take with your employees.