Come and meet up at techmesh:York

If you work in the IT and telecommunications sectors in Yorkshire and the Humber then we would love you to attend techmesh:York – a free networking event organised by techmesh.

Backed by Yorkshire Forward, techmesh is a new business network for the region’s fast-growing IT and telecommunications sector – the largest outside of London

Companies and professionals operating in the sector are being invited to attend the first techmesh: York event at the York Science Park on March 25th at 6:00pm.

For the York event, techmesh are teaming up with Science City York’s local sector network IT & Digital York. York Science Park has kindly sponsored the venue.

There will be a key note speech from Allan Dunn, Director of ioko, who will talk about ioko’s successes and the pitfalls of the industry.

ioko designs, builds and runs technology platforms for media and entertainment companies worldwide, delivered across broadcast, broadband and mobile networks to televisions, computers, mobile phones and other digital devices. ioko began business as a small venture, run by two University of York students, it grew rapidly to where they are now.

Gary Rowbotham, techmesh Programme Manager, said: "Collaboration and working together is the best way of driving the sector forward and techmesh: York allows those people working in North Yorkshire and beyond a chance to network, swop ideas and make business connections.
"We are also offering three, five-minute presentation slots and inviting attendees to discuss how they would like to partner and collaborate with others as well as give a short talk about their business and what services they can offer. All this and free drinks too.”

Heather Niven, IT & Digital Sector Specialist at Science City York, said: "The value of sector specific networks in promoting collaborative working has long been recognised. We’re particularly pleased to partner with techmesh for the York event to extend the reach and impact of local network activities across the region.”

There are a limited number of tickets available for techmesh:York and tickets are available by registering here or contact Events Coordinator Dawn Kelly on 0113 384 5641 or dawn@techmesh.org

techmesh launch event in Leeds

techmesh: Sheffield – another great event

We had another great techmesh event in Sheffield this week at the Workstation were more than 50 people attended to hear about BT’s plans for investment in fiber-based superfast broadband, reaching more than one million homes in the UK in 2010 and linking up more than 40 per cent of the population between 2011 and 2012.
Speaking at techmesh: Sheffield delegates from Yorkshire’s IT and telecommunications sector heard how BT plans to transform broadband access in the region and beyond.
Trevor Higgins, BT Partnership Director, and the telecom group’s ambassador for the region, said: "Superfast broadband access is already being trialed and proven in areas like Pudsey, Calder Valley and Halifax and we are seeking to role that out further over the next couple of years."
He told the audience: "The challenge to you as specialists in IT and telecommunications is to develop the applications and software that will benefit from superfast broadband. It will have a major impact on the region’s economy if you do."
He added that other areas already announced to receive optical fibre investment included Armley, Shipley, Low Moor, Castleford, Pontefract, Guiseley, Lofthouse Gate, Beauchief and Ranmoor
Further announcements of the next areas to receive fibre investment across Yorkshire and Humber would follow shortly.
Guests at the techmesh event also heard from techmesh member Peter Hopton, Managing Director of VeryPC, who used the techmesh members time slot at the event to inform the attendees about his UK’s leading environmentally-friendly desk top company.
Established in 2004 in Sheffield by several electronic engineer graduates from the University of Sheffield, VeryPC has pioneered “green” computing in the UK and is now a supplier to a wide range of public and private organisations globally having been endorsed by the Energy Saving Trust.
techmesh Project Manager, Gary Rowbotham, said: "The Sheffield event was the first of several we shall be holding around the region bringing together IT and telecommunications professionals where they can meet and build business connections and collaborate on projects."

Join us for techmesh:Sheffield

If you work in the IT and telecommunications sectors in Yorkshire and the Humber then we would love you to attend techmesh: Sheffield – a free networking event organised by techmesh.
Backed by Yorkshire Forward, techmesh is a new business network for the region’s fast-growing IT and telecommunications sector – the largest outside of London. 
The first event will be held in Sheffield on Tuesday, February 23 at 6.00 pm at the Showroom and Workstation, Paternoster Row.
There will be a key note speech from Trevor Higgins, BT Partnership Director, discussing superfast broadband in South Yorkshire.
Gary Rowbotham, techmesh Programmme Manager, said: "techmesh: Sheffield allows those working in the Yorkshire IT and telecommunications sectors to mingle, swop ideas and make business connections. This event is about encouraging collaboration and making new contacts.
"We are also offering  five x three minute presentation slots and inviting attendees to give a short talk about their business, what services they can offer and discuss how they would like to partner and collaborate with others. All this and free drinks too."
With IT and telecommunications set to make a major contribution to the Yorkshire and Humber economy the new business network, techmesh, will provide a business network for companies, organisations and individuals working in these sectors to meet, exchange information and share best practice.
techmesh will run a series of events across the region over the next 12 months bringing members together at informal networking events as well as larger events bringing some major speakers from the leading IT and telecommunications companies.
There a limited number of tickets available for techmesh: Sheffield and tickets are available through the techmesh website at techmesh.org or contact Events Coordinator Dawn Kelly on 0113 384 5641 or dawn@techmesh.org

Interesting reading on Digital region

The Digital Communications KTN, in cooperation with Digital 20/20, have produced a report following an event held in Sheffield at Electric Works on December 1, 2009 writes Emma Frost on the Digital Yorkshire blog.
Two keynote presentations were delivered, one around new developments in telecommunications and online technologies and one describing the Digital Region (South Yorkshire’s new state-of-the-art fibre-optic network).
These presentations were then followed by workshops to allow attendees to discuss particular themes, generate new ideas and identify how the capacity of Digital Region and other superfast broadband networks might be used. The attendees could choose from four workshops on the topics 'IT & Network Services'; 'Digital Content'; 'Learning & Education'; and 'Healthcare & the Smart Home'.
Emma has uploaded the full report as a PDF for you to view. Over 60 people attended the event on the day and I think the report makes an interesting read.

First techmesh event a great success

We held our first techmesh event last night in The Loft in Leeds and were delighted with number that attended – more and 100 of you.
Food, fizz and jazz were excellent. As were the speakers - Marco Potesta, director of The NetStart a former director of IT reseller Insight and a founding director of Yorkshire’s most successful internet service provider, PlusNet and Conrad Poulson, Head of Start-up Business Development at mobile telecoms group Orange.
You can find the full story here. Videos of the speakers will be available shortly.
However, we would love to know what you would want from a future techmesh event. We are planning to run them around the region. In which towns or cities would you like an event? What sort of speakers would you like to hear? Any special topics? Would you prefer an OpenCoffee/GeekUp/BarCamp event or something more formal?
Leave a comment and let us know. Meanwhile here are some pictures from last night.

First techmesh: Sheffield

Could you benefit from collaborating with other businesses and getting to know what others are doing?
Would you like to have the opportunity to exchange ideas and experiences with others?
techmesh brings you techmesh:Sheffield a collaboration networking event.
Attend techmesh:Sheffield and expand your business connections. This event is about encouraging collaboration and making new contacts. techmesh:Sheffield will put you in touch with other IT and Telecom organisations that will be able to provide you with the skills that you are missing. Remember; it might not just come from the people you get to meet, but from who they know!
This networking event will offer you the possibility of greater relationships, further collaboration, more partnerships and mutually beneficial business relationships.

Date: Tuesday 23 February 2010
Time: 18.00-20.00hrs
Venue: Showroom and Workstation, Paternoster Row, Sheffield. S1 2BX Map
Includes: Food, drink and chat
Who should attend: IT & Telecoms professionals and entrepreneurs.

For further information, please contact Dawn on 0113 384 5641 or dawn@techmesh.org or register here.