Welcome to our weekly South West Tech News roundup, where you can get all the headlines from the past week in one place.
What has our busy tech and digital community been up to this week? From award wins and innovative breakthroughs to unmissable events and capital raised, take a moment to reflect on the hive of daily activity taking place in our region.
If you have a story to share, wizz it over to beno@techspark.co – I look forward to hearing from you!
Try 2 free days hot desking with Desklodge
DeskLodge is a Bristol serviced office and co-working space operator providing space for SME’s and solo workers to thrive and succeed.
They have created a colourful, vibrant, creative workspace that get the brain cells buzzing and good energy flowing. Surrounded by friendly neighbours, you’re inspired to simply get stuff done. With Desklodge, going to work becomes a magical experience, whether you’re at their Desklodge House location, super close to Temple Meads train station, or Beacon Tower, in the heart of the city.
Desklodge pride themselves on offering the biggest mix of workspaces and work zones to cater to everyone; the goal being to ensure everyone has a happy and productive experience at work.
Fill in your details and get 2 Free Days Hot Desking at one of DeskLodge’s locations.
Learn about the opportunities to work at the Met Office
Since 2023 the Met Office have been certified a great place to work. This accreditation is given by Great Place to Work UK to organisations that display an exceptional workplace culture and is based on feedback from employees who say the Met Office is a safe, fun and caring place they’re proud to work at.
From your first day to every day, the Met Office provide an experience that’s career-enhancing and life-supporting. They’re respectful of every background and focused on helping you be the best you can be. And, from amazing learning and development to focusing on how work and life work better together, they look after our people, so you can look after the world.
Get to know some of the opportunities they have to offer at their Exeter HQ.
Are you an innovative early-stage tech startup ready to elevate your business to new heights?
Tech Nation’s prestigious Rising Stars pitch competition returns with £3 million up for grabs. Newly merged with One to Win, Rigby Group, SCC, Haatch and Wealth Club, the enhanced competition will reward the most promising tech startups from across the UK offering them invaluable platform to pitch at regional and national levels, boosting visibility and attracting customers, partners, and investors.
- Apply by 2nd March for the chance to win game-changing investment – £335,000 at the regional level and £1,000,000 at the national level
- Unparalleled Exposure – Showcase your innovation on a local, regional, and national scale
- Tailored Support – Refine your business strategy and pitch capabilities with insights from experienced investors
- Networking with Influential Stakeholders – Build connections that lead to funding, strategic partnerships, and a supportive network
- Global Recognition – Finalists will pitch to over 1000 attendees on the Founders stage at @London Tech Week
Visit the website to learn more about the criteria, tracks, timelines and prizes!
Get involved in Bath Digital Festival
Bath Digital Festival will be return from 13th to 15th May 2025, transforming Bath into a vibrant hub of innovation, creativity, and cutting-edge technology. More than just a local event, this curated festival aims to provide a platform for the entire South West region to explore, learn, and celebrate advancements in the digital and tech industries.
This year’s festival is built around three transformative themes:
- Space: Beyond the Horizon
- Sustain: Enabling the Future
- Being: The Human and Beyond
Whether you’re a digital innovator, a curious learner, or someone with a bold idea, Bath Digital Festival 2025 welcomes you to join the conversation. Save the dates — 13th to 15th May — and stay tuned for programme updates and ticket information.
For more information, visit the festival website, or contact our partnerships team.
Join us for our Annual Investment Review
Next Wednesday we are hosting our Annual Investment Review, where we’ll share our report of the financial ecosystem in the South West over the last 12 months and into 2025.
This will be the perfect opportunity for investors, those who enable investment, and founders to network, share and learn together, as we reflect on 2024, explore exciting initiatives planned for 2025, and uild relationships that will make 2025 an even more fruitful year.
This evening is for Investors, those who enable investment, Founders of growing businesses, and leaders of scaleup companies. Register your place here.
Discover SETsquared Open Event
Tech founders and aspiring tech entrepreneurs of all levels and backgrounds are welcome to attend this open event to learn about the SETsquared Bristol business support programme and meet the team.
Find out from the UK’s top startup hub:
- How an incubator can help you to grow your busines
- What the business survival rate is for our members
- What programmes we offer
- What the eligibility criteria is to join
