DIGITAL WAVE

Video player placeholder image of a man on stage

Digital Wave is returning on Tuesday 2nd October 2018. Held at the BIC in Bournemouth - the home of the country’s fastest-growing digital economy – Digital Wave will shine a light on all the degree, college, apprenticeship and career opportunities on offer in the UK’s most exciting industry. Students will hear from acclaimed speakers who will share real life experiences and those all-important tips on how to make it in the industry.

Book your free tickets to attend the one-day digital careers conference exclusively for 14-19 year olds.

Anyone under 19 is invited and can attend via their school, college, or independently. An ensemble of acclaimed speakers and exhibitors will be there to help inspire the next wave of digital talent - from creative and technical roles to marketing and management.

Spaces are limited so teachers, tutors and students can book their free tickets on a first-come, first-served basis via our Eventbrite page.

-->

BECOME A DIGITAL APPRENTICE

Interested in joining a digital agency? Visit Redweb’s website to find out more about how you can get involved with the apprenticeship scheme for the South’s largest digital agency.

Speakers

Alex Price

CEO and Founder | 93Digital

At just 25, Alex now employs a team of 15 people at specialist digital agency 93digital. Having begun working as a freelance web designer at age 16, Alex has grown 93digital from a bedroom business into one of the UK’s leading specialist digital agencies, with 93digital now being ranked as a Top 100 Independent Agency. Alex has twice been included in the BIMA 100 of those 'shaping the future of digital', been shortlisted in The Hospital Club's h100 as a ‘Rising Star’ of the creative industries and won The Drum’s ‘Agency Rising Star’ award.

Passionate about getting more young people into the digital industry and closing the digital skills gap, Alex also gives up his time to lecture students at London South Bank University and serves on BIMA’s Young Talent Council.

Follow on Twitter
Heather Smith

Managing Director | LV=

I have 25 years experience in Financial Services across a range of roles covering direct distribution, brand, marketing and digital. At Aviva and now at LV=, I have lead significant change in the organisations moving the customer interactions and services to digital first. This has involved big cultural change at the heart of the organisation.

Previously to this I have led the direct channels for general, life and health insurance with full P&L accountability. I am also of course a big champion of the voice of the customer in the organisation and lead customer conduct on behalf of the Executive team. Some of the most memorable moments have been leading on the re-brand from Norwich Union to Aviva and delivering the single customer view across 16million customers. It is with pride I now lead the LV brand and digital transformation.
Ashley Smith

Test Analyst at Mitrefinch Ltd

Ashley has been working in tech for the past 7 years, in a variety of test related roles. She strongly believes in the importance of testing in software development, and has implemented various testing strategies during her career. She is currently a Test Analyst at Mitrefinch, where she spends most of her time writing automated tests, attending automation workshops and talking about automation to anyone who will listen!

Ashley is also the co-founder of Women in Tech York; they run monthly events where anyone interested in tech can share their passion and experience. Part of her work with Women in Tech is sharing her enthusiasm for tech with students interested in studying or starting their career in tech.

She also loves to run so she can eat cake!"
Follow on Twitter
Jamie Spafford

co-founder of SORTEDfood

Jamie Spafford is a co-founder of SORTEDfood - one of the largest and most prolific cooking conversations online, with a global community of more than 2.5million people. From teaching simple recipes, to exploring some of the best food in cities around the world, SORTEDfood has spent the last 10 years using social platforms to engage with millions of food lovers.

During this time SORTEDfood has partnered with a select number of commercial brands to help extend and amplify their work, and earlier this year the team launched a ‘club' for it’s community to become more actively involved in the brand - with members being able to subscribe to help develop regular cookbooks, attend supper clubs hosted by SORTEDfood and even take advantage of SORTED’s growing relationships with food establishments around the world with special treatments and discounts.
Hannah Brookes

Senior Content Marketing Manager - Jellyfish

Jellyfish is the world’s biggest boutique agency, delivering digital marketing services for a host of brands such as Toyota, Channel 5, Lacoste and Bershka, among many others. Jellyfish is ranked 30 in the 2018 Sunday Times International Track 200, a listing of Britain's privately-owned companies with the fastest-growing international sales.

Hannah was a freelance copywriter before joining her first digital marketing agency in 2013. As a UX Content Strategist at Jellyfish, she helps businesses understand not just what content they need to create, but why and how. The result is content that is customer-led, technically fit for purpose and sustainable.
Simon Harmer

Founder - Marmalade on Toast

Simon has been working in the creative industry for twenty years. As Founder of Marmalade on Toast, he has led an award-winning creative studio to over ten years of success, working with clients such as Harrods, Samsung, Imperial College London and Unilever.

He is also a published author and illustrator, having been commissioned by Mazda, Tate Galleries, The Guardian and Hugo Boss.

As a speaker, Simon focusses on the value of design and creativity. As a creative, he brings his unique, humorous and engaging views to subjects as diverse as Design Thinking, Disruption, Play and Passion. He also appeared on expert panels offering a creative insight into our increasingly tech-driven world.
Steven “Woody” Woodgate

Marketing Lead

A creative, curious and collaborative digital-first marketer. An avid reader and value-driven - top one being enjoyment. Finalist of Marketing Society’s ‘Young Marketing leader of the Year’. 2014 Scholar of the Marketing Academy. Member of the ISBA Digital Action for future media digital development & DMA Judge. Voted in the top 70 of the upcoming ‘Social Media stars of the future’. Firm believer in how technology can open up a career in communications for more people, especially those who have dyslexia and dyspraxia.

Would you like to be a speaker at Digital Wave 2018?

Participating organisations

The following organisations will be attending Digital Wave to offer advice and answer any questions that attending students may have. They will also be showing off some of their exciting tech!