As the Events Manager at Wired Sussex I like to try and keep abreast of what's going on in the local Creative, Digital & IT (CDIT) events scene.
As well as organising a comprehensive programme of events for our members, we also support, help to promote (free of charge) and go along to community events and networking groups in the area.
There's a real wealth of events going on in Sussex - particularly Brighton (being the CDIT hub that it is) and something for everyone. From regular meetups on subjects including programming, coding, virtual reality, business development, project management, animation, social media and women in tech; whether you're a freelancer, company director or an employee of an organisation, these events are open to all.
One of the best ways to keep up to date with what's going on in the sector in Brighton and wider Sussex, is via our online events calendar. You can sign up to receive weekly events from the calendar (joining over 1200 others), choosing the category of event(s) that you'd like to receive and also the date that you'd like to receive the email too. So if you haven't already, sign up and get a helpful overview of the next four weeks of upcoming events straight to your inbox!
We also have a Local Networking Groups page detailing the meetup groups in and around Brighton. Many of these groups hold regular events that are listed on the events calendar, however some of them are online forums.
If you are running any events or groups, support promoting them, or if you know someone who is, please do feel free to make use of these free services and let us help you spread the word far and wide.
And if you are putting on a community event or meetup, I'd recommend having a think about the type of vibe you are going for, the type of audience you want and how many people you want to attract - this will largely inform your venue options (as well of budget of course!) There's a whole variety of niche, funky, laid back and more formal venues out there for you to make use of. These range from free of charge hire rates to the upper end of the scale for the larger and more formal events.
I'd recommend doing a bit of research and attending other events that are in spaces you might like to hold your events to see how they work. So keep an eye on our calendar and get signing up!
For tips on making the most out of networking and other events, check out a previous blog post here.
If you've got any questions feel free to get in touch with me at laura@wiredsussex.com.
Thanks!