Last Wednesday, we were delighted to bring together the region’s digital tech community once again for the Sheffield Digital Annual General Meetup – an evening focused on celebrating achievements, reflecting on progress, and looking ahead to what’s next for tech across Sheffield and South Yorkshire.

There was a strong sense of momentum in the room. From milestones reached over the past year to opportunities on the horizon, the event showcased the strength and collaboration that continue to define our community. It was also a chance to connect with old friends, past colleagues and new faces – something that remains at the heart of what we do as an organisation.

We’d like to extend our thanks to our speakers for sharing their experiences and insights. Dr. Susan Oman, from the Centre for Machine Intelligence, University of Sheffield, revealed the breadth and depth of her work, including research for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. She also introduced the Centre for Machine Intelligence – developed to bolster Sheffield’s “unique role and position in AI innovation” – and shared the events, resources and opportunities at the CMI that are available for the region’s businesses to take advantage of.

Our keynote interviewees, Chris Muscroft and Andrew Longman, co-founders of Promptable, reflected on their experiences as mentor and mentee on the Sheffield Digital Mentoring programme, and how that relationship led them to Chris joining Andrew as a cofounder. Key to their story has been a significant pivot in business focus, which was necessary after Andrew admits he’d been “obsessed with the tech” and had become “boxed in” to the solution, rather than fully interrogating the problem. In giving some words of wisdom to anyone thinking they may have to pivot, he said: “It’s not simple and involves a lot of mental overhead, but you’ve got to keep going if you want to strike.”

Thanks to our partners

Events like our AGM are only possible thanks to the support of our community and partners. We’re particularly grateful to our Associate Sponsors, Gravitate Accounting, and to our Ecosystem Partners: Sheffield Hallam University, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield Technology Parks, The Sheffield College, TECH SY, Sheffield City Council / Business Sheffield – whose ongoing collaboration enables us to deliver events, programmes and day-to-day support for the sector.

We also want to recognise the fantastic team at Workstation Sheffield for creating such a welcoming atmosphere on the night, from seamless organisation to excellent food and a warm space for conversation on a cold, rainy evening.

Raising awareness and crucial funding

One of the most impactful moments of the evening came from our charity spotlight on St Luke’s – Sheffield’s Hospice. Presentations from Katie Fielding and Jemma Dalton were powerful, moving and motivating, highlighting the vital role the hospice plays in supporting people and families across the region.

We raised a total of £682 for the charity from ticket sales to the AGM. With more than £11 million needed this year to continue their work, there are many ways for individuals and organisations to build on this support – whether through fundraising, volunteering or partnerships. Please take a look at the website to see how you can get involved.

Highlighting a vibrant meetup scene

We ended the evening on an uplifting note, hearing short pitches from some of the meetup organisers who help make our region’s tech scene so vibrant. Thank you to Front End Sheffield, Sheffield Women in Technology, FaithTech (Sheffield), Startup Social, Tech Exchange Chesterfield, Steel City AI and NUX Sheffield for sharing some interesting background information, and what’s coming up this year. Their energy and commitment are a huge part of what makes this ecosystem special.

If you haven’t already explored it, our new Meetup Directory is a great place to discover events, communities and opportunities to get involved across the region.

Thank you to everyone who attended, contributed and continues to support Sheffield Digital. The strength of this community comes from the people in it, and we’re excited for everything still to come this year.