BUSINESS NEWS
BATH DIGITAL FESTIVAL RETURNS FOR 2018
Local businesses , IT experts , and digital pioneers will be taking a step into the future later this year at the Bath Digital Festival 2018 . Now in its sixth year , the festival will run from 23-27 October 2018 at numerous locations across Bath .
The 2017 event attracted over 2000 individuals ranging in age from pre-school to pensioners who took part in more than 80 events across 26 venues . Recently , Bath was named one of the UK ’ s ‘ top 10 tech hubs of tomorrow ’ by The Financial Times .
Tim Warren , Bath and North East Somerset Council leader , said : “ Last year ’ s event was a huge success for all those involved . I am delighted this event is coming back to the City again this year as the digital sector is becoming more and more important to Bath ’ s economy .”
Based on the theme of ‘ Discovery ’, the
2018 programme promises “ even more ” innovative advances , inclusive events , and debate .
Among the corporate sponsors already signed up to add their expertise this year are Invest in Bath , Minuteman Press and Bathbased Mayden Academy , who specialise in fast-track software developer training programmes .
Jim Morrison , director of Bath Digital Festival and CEO of Deep Blue Sky , added : “ Understanding and embracing digital technology is what the Bath Digital Festival is all about . Technologies are changing and advancing at an incredible pace – and everyone is impacted , from families to multinational corporations .”
He said : “ We live and work in one of the epicentres of this acceleration . So we have a duty as a city , and as a community of leading tech companies like Deep Blue Sky , to bring together everyone whom digital change touches , with those who are at the leading edge of that change .”
If you ’ ve got an idea to showcase , a story to tell , or you ’ d like to sponsor Bath Digital Festival 2018 then there ’ s still time to get involved .
Bath trio win Queen ’ s Award for Enterprise
Three Bath firms have been awarded The Queen ’ s Award for Enterprise 2018 , the UK ’ s highest accolade for business success .
Gifting company Wild & Wolf received their award in the International Trade category . Founded in 2005 , and now employing 150 people globally , Wild & Wolf creates design-led gifts and lifestyle products across a wide portfolio of popular licensed and own brands .
Paul Taylor , CEO at Wild & Wolf said “ It is a great honour to have been awarded the prestigious Queen ’ s Award for Enterprise : International Trade . We ’ ve experienced tremendous growth in our international trade , particularly in the last 3 years . Once a predominantly UK driven business , by the end of 2018 two thirds of our business will be outside of the UK , with the USA being our single biggest market .”
Rocketmakers won their award for innovation , in particular for the creation of the Performance Data Management System ( PDMS ). The system was built in partnership with the English Institute of Sport , which is used by elite British athletes to improve performance and avoid injuries .
Richard Godfrey , CEO of Rocketmakers , said : “ Winning the Queen ’ s Award is an enormous honour for Rocketmakers , and real validation of the hard work we have been doing for the last decade . We would like to thank our partners at the English
Institute of Sport , and the athletes that use PDMS every day , for giving us the opportunity to work with them .”
Wessex Water ’ s award came in Sustainable Development , the third time they had won in that category . Wessex Water ’ s first commitment to becoming a sustainable company came back in 1996 , and their operations centre just outside of Bath is among the most environmentally friendly offices in the UK .
Dan Green , Head of Sustainability and Innovation at Wessex Water , commented : “ We ’ re thrilled and immensely honoured to pick up the Queen ’ s Award for a third
For further information on the range of sponsorship packages available , or to register your interest as a speaker or volunteer , visit : www . bathdigitalfestival . co . uk
01225 582482
@ bathdigital
time . We pride ourselves on going beyond ‘ business as usual ’ in all areas , from our work on social tariffs and debt advice to catchment permitting and online nutrient trading .”
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4 THE BUSINESS EXCHANGE 2018