Tech Events in Bristol

A free monthly meet-up for creatives, artists and technologists interested in making things happen in/with communities.

Whether you already work with communities or are curious to begin, you’re welcome here - all that’s needed is a genuine interest in community-centred, collaborative ways of making.

Each CxAxT Meetup is a bit different depending on what the group asks for. So this month, we're testing out a new format. Firstly: a friendly space to briefly share ideas, projects and things you are working on. Then: a space for you work on something independently in a calm creative setting alongside other people.

Schedule:

****6:00-********6:****25 Arrive at KWMC - grab a hot drink and some dinner (all free)

6:25 - 7 Opportunity to say hello and briefly share what you're upto - whether that's something you're working on or something you've always wanted to do. This should fit under the themes of community and/or arts and/or tech. You're very welcome to bring props or photos to explain your idea, or run mini creative activity or demo. 5 minutes maximum each. Welcome to just listen if you're not in a sharing mood.

7-8 Working on our own projects. Bring along something you'd like to work on or have been putting off - this could be a creative hobby, tech prototype, VR piece, a creative application you're working on, updating your website, etc... We'll be working on our own projects alongside each other.

Please let us know if you have any access needs which you'd like support with, and we’ll do our best to meet them.

Got any questions ?

Email chloe.meineck@kwmc.org.uk – we’d love to hear from you.

Playtest Parties are a place for local video game developers to showcase what they’re working on. Not a game developer? No worries! Playtest prototype video games from local game developers, offer feedback and make an impact on the latest games in the Bristol area.

This event is hosted at our new location (2nd Floor, 30 St Nicholas Street, Bristol, BS1 1TG) with free drinks and is 18+ only.

Got a game of your own? Fantastic! Drop a comment below with your game's name and bring it along to our meetup (Or post it on our Discord). From early prototypes to near-complete projects, we welcome games in all stages of development. Just remember to bring your own hardware. (Limited monitor access is available)

We look forward to seeing you and playtesting games on the first Thursday of each month!
Click here to view the list of games showcasing at tonight's event!

Note: If you're bringing a game please show up 15 minutes early for set up. Thanks!

📸 We may take some photos at the Playtest Party for promotional purposes. The photos are likely to appear on our Discord. If you would prefer not to be photographed, no worries, just let us know at the event.

Location: Runway east, 1 Victoria St, Redcliffe, Bristol BS1 6AA
Presentations by Snap Analytics - snapanalytics.co.uk - an enterprise partner to help connect data, technology and teams to deliver exceptional business outcomes.

AGENDA

18.00 – 18:30 Meet & Greet
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18:30 - 18:35 Introduction & Welcome
Welcome, and thanks to our sponsors
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18:35 - 19:00 Talk: One Platform or Many? Navigating the Modern Data Platform Landscape by James Parr

The modern data platform landscape is evolving quickly, with vendors offering broader, more integrated capabilities across ingestion, governance, analytics and AI. This raises an important question for data leaders: should you aim to consolidate onto a single platform, or embrace a broader ecosystem?

This talk explores the practical realities behind both approaches. Using real‑world examples, we’ll look at the trade‑offs involved, including cost, complexity, flexibility and scalability, and why the “right” answer often changes as organisations grow.

Speaker bios below.

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19:00 - 19:30 Pizza and Networking
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19:30 - 20:15 Talk: The AI-Augmented Data Team: Scaling Delivery Without Scaling Headcount by Will Taite

Every data leader faces the same fundamental tension: the business demands data products faster than engineering capacity allows. While our current delivery frameworks provide essential governance, scaling them to meet modern demands often requires a linear, and expensive, increase in headcount. The solution isn't to abandon our engineering disciplines, but to supercharge them.
In this session, we will unpack the transition to the AI-Augmented Data Delivery Lifecycle. Moving beyond the hype, we will share practical examples of how leading teams are utilizing context-driven agents and automation to optimise the most time-intensive phases of delivery, from conceptual modelling and pipeline generation to robust testing and CI/CD.
Attendees will leave with a clear blueprint for integrating AI into their existing workflows, reducing manual engineering overhead, and freeing their teams to focus on what truly matters: high-value architecture and driving strategic business impact.

Speaker bios below.

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20:15 - Social/Pub

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Speaker Bios

James Parr
Principle Consultant @ Snap Analytics

Will Taite
Head of Data Platforms @ Snap Analytics

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Photos
We ask that you do NOT take photos at this meetup.

We will invite people to be included in a group photo/s during the event. Speakers will let you know if it's okay to photograph their presentation (excluding other attendees).

You may see organisers taking photos during the talks. These will be of speakers, if they have agreed to this, and will not include faces of attendees.

Kick off event!

18:00 - arrive and mingle
18:15 - intro
18:20 - AI demo 1
18:50 - break
19:00 - AI demo 2
19:30 - Q&A
19:50 - close
20:00 - networking, until we get kicked out the building

NOTE: there are other tech groups meeting in Desklodge House on the same night, so remember to ask for the AI Automations meetup!

Join us for our next product meetup!

18:00 - Descend, Sip, Snacks, and Strategy
18:25 - Introduction and a warm welcome from our host
18:30 - First Talk
19:15 - Break for more sips and snacks
19:30 - Second Talk
20:15 - Wrap Up
20:20 - End and Depart, with the opportunity for extended discussions at the pub
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📢 Move fast and learn things
Taking a test and learn approach to public sector data access challenges with the GDS Data Kickstarters.

GDS have launched 5 data kickstarter projects (with more to come) that aim to deliver value to the public via the individual projects while also testing new ways to address challenges related to data access more broadly.

Everything is up for grabs - technology, governance, legislation, operating models - whatever is needed to demonstrate how to make our data infrastructure ready to support the demands of modern services and expectations of the public.

👤 Matt Jukes
I’m Head of Products and Services at the Government Digital Service leading the Data Kickstarters. I’m a veteran (meaning I’m old) of public service digital and data transformation projects including working with the Office for National Statistics, mySociety, the BBC, UK Hydrographic Office and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Though most people know me because I’ve done a weekly jobs newsletter for more than a decade.
Bluesky: @jukes.ie

📢 10 things I did wrong and what it taught me
Success stories are everywhere, but failure is often the better teacher. While we spend our careers chasing "impact" and celebrating "wins," the most profound growth happens when things go sideways. In this session, Sara peels back the curtain on a decade of product delivery to share 10 specific "scars"—from the art of the "sell" to the "speed trap" of scaling.
Whether you’ve followed a customer request too literally or assumed the team was following the plan (only to find they weren't), this talk offers an honest look at some of the most relatable product mistakes.

👤 Sara Hamilton-Turbitt
Sara is a product leader specialising in delivery and digital transformation for high-growth companies. Having served on the committee for Women’s Matrix, she is a dedicated champion for diversity in STEM and ethical leadership. Sara balances her passion for scaling efficient businesses with a deep commitment to mental health awareness and inclusive workplace culture.

Hosted by: Just Eat Takeaway​.com
Just Eat Take​away​.com is a lead­ing global on-demand delivery company, connecting consumers with 362,000 part­ners in 16 countries.

Sponsored by:

Jouma
A Bristol based recruitment consultancy, providing permanent and interim staff to technology, financial and professional services operations across the UK; our mission – to make recruitment great again.
https://jouma.uk · hello@jouma.uk

Pilot Works
Pilot Works is a product and service design consultancy based in Bristol.
We use research and prototyping techniques to help our clients visualise and align on what they need to deliver, in order meet the needs of their users and achieve their organisation’s goals.
As well as hands-on consultancy we also provide training and coaching for individuals and teams.
Find out more at https://pilot.works

Additional Information
Photography and/or recording equipment will be used throughout the event, with images shared on social channels during and after the event.

By attending, you agree to follow our Code of Conduct

For May we'll be having a Lightning Talks night. The theme - AI

We're also have a new venue sponsor Temple Studios. Thanks to them for providing their venue to PHP-SW.

AI... Love it? Hate it?
What tricks have you found that actually work?
Where has it confidently led you off a cliff?
Has it changed how you write code, or just how you write apologies for code?

If you've got something to say or demo get in touch and we'll get you a slot.

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Lamp Bristol and Temple Studios are kindly helping us host this evening. Thanks to them!
Your first time coming to PHPSW? Welcome!
Here's how the evening tends to run:

• Feel free to turn up from 6:30pm.
• We'll have a selection of food available from about 6:30pm, all free of charge thanks to our sponsors. It's a great chance to speak to people (we're a friendly bunch!) and do a bit of networking. Just speak to an organiser if you'd like an introduction to people, or just dive in and say "hello!".
• At 7pm, we'll do a quick welcome talk and some community announcements
• At ~7:05pm we'll start the talks
• We finish at 8:30. We always stay for a drink afterwards to discuss the talks and anything else that takes your fancy. 🐘

Please Note: This event is advertised on multiple platforms. Please RSVP and get a ticket on Mindstone (https://community.mindstone.com/events/mindstone-bristol-may-ai-meetup-2026) to view the agenda and guarantee a spot.

Welcome to the most electrifying and ground-breaking AI Meetup in Bristol!

Join us once a month as we delve into the world of artificial intelligence, explore its cutting-edge practical applications, and marvel at the astonishing projects that are shaping our future.

Why should you attend?
• Get up close and personal with the AI projects that are redefining the boundaries of technology and human potential.
• Learn from the brightest minds in the field and gain valuable insights into the ever-evolving AI landscape.
• Unleash your curiosity, fuel your creativity, and expand your network as you connect with fellow AI aficionados and pioneers.

What you can expect?
Mindstone events consist of three talks covering different aspects:

• What I Learned Building With LLMs: A technical demo breaking down the process for building a product using AI with real-life learnings and insights.
• How To Be More Productive Using AI: A practical demo and step-by-step guide on how to use AI to speed up and improve tasks.
• What Does The Future Look Like With AI?: A theoretical talk on the impact of AI on work, life and society.

After the talks we'll have pizza, drinks, and networking.

Don't miss out on this extraordinary opportunity to witness the AI revolution in action. It's time to embark on a thrilling journey into the future and discover the endless possibilities that lie within the realm of artificial intelligence.

Reserve your spot today for the ultimate AI experience! 💡✨ (https://community.mindstone.com/events/mindstone-bristol-may-ai-meetup-2026)

Please Note: This event is advertised on multiple platforms. Please RSVP and get a ticket on Mindstone (https://community.mindstone.com/events/mindstone-bristol-may-ai-meetup-2026) to view the agenda and guarantee a spot.

Apologies we set up the original with the wrong date so have recreated the meetup on Thu 21st May.

When: Thursday 21st May 2026
Time: arrive for 5:45pm with talks starting from 6pm start prompt.
Location: Ecosurety, 2nd Floor, 4 Colston Ave, Bristol BS1 4ST

Complimentary drinks & pizza provided by our sponsor Method Resourcing Solutions. Please remember to RSVP to help us confirm numbers!

Session 1 - Build it right: Real-World Microsoft Fabric Pipelines with Metadata & Medallion Architecture - Alpa Buddhabhatti
In this session, you’ll learn how to build data pipelines the right way—scalable, reusable, and future-proof—using Microsoft Fabric and the Medallion Architecture (Bronze, Silver, Gold).

Through a fully working demo based on a real-world scenario, we’ll show how to:

• Load messy data from Excel files, on-prem databases, & APIs
• Ingest and land it into OneLake using (ADF)
• Use metadata tables to control pipeline behaviour & automate transformations
• Apply business logic using Fabric SQL DB & Notebooks
• Deliver clean, trusted data for Fabric Data Agent

Fabric components covered: Fabric Data Factory (ADF) // OneLake + Lakehouse // Fabric SQL DB // Fabric Notebooks // Fabric Data Agent

This session is perfect if you're tired of rebuilding pipelines from scratch for every use case. Learn how to design once, scale with metadata, and deploy with confidence across environments—all within the Microsoft Fabric ecosystem.

About Alpa
I specialise in helping organisations adopt and transform with modern Data & AI platforms, thriving at the intersection of data engineering, cloud architecture, and artificial intelligence. My passion lies in crafting end-to-end data and AI architectures that integrate LLMs and Generative AI—powered by Azure OpenAI, Azure AI Foundry, Copilot, and Microsoft Fabric—to unlock insights and deliver innovation at scale.

Session 2 - Data Modelling: The Lost Art of Turning Inputs into Insights - Paul Andrew
In today’s data-driven world, business pour vast resources into data engineering pipelines, platforms, and processing often overlooking the true value driver in the solution, data modelling. Without well-defined models, data remains a raw asset rather than a business intelligence enabler. In this session, we will remind ourselves of the foundational principles of dimensional modelling and agile data warehouse development, drawing on the timeless work of Ralph Kimball, Lawrence Corr, and Bill Inmon.

From a data architect’s perspective, we’ll explore why modelling is not just a technical step but a business-critical discipline that transforms inputs into actionable outputs. You’ll learn how robust data entities bridge the gap between engineering and analytics, enabling clarity, consistency, and scalability in delivering valuable insights.

About Paul
Paul (AKA @mrpaulandrew) is the Co-Founder & CTO of Cloud Formations, a specialist data consultancy based in the UK. With nearly 20 years’ experience designing and delivering Microsoft data architectures, Paul leads a passionate team of engineers, supporting businesses small and large with scalable cloud platforms.

We all look forward to seeing you there!!

Welcome to the next instalment of the South West User Group, as usual we will be hosting at the Engine Shed in the Junction room, with two 45-minute speaker slots talking about everything Dynamics 365 & Power Platform. We will be providing food and refreshments and for those that wish, we will carry on for a social afterwards.

Agenda TBC

SouthWest@d365ppug.com

May 2026

Come and join us for an evening of talks and discussions around the Ethical (or lack thereof) use of Artificial Intelligence 🤖

The evening will be:
- 6pm: arrival and networking
- 6:30pm: Monthly News Roundup
- 6:50pm: Main Talk (speaker TBC)
- 7:20pm: Q&A + Discussion
- 7:35pm: Grab a drink
- 7:50pm: Postive Actions

The evening will wrap up by 8pm, and there is the option for more discussions and networking until we have to vacate the building by 8:30pm 🙌🏻

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Venue

The w3w for Torchbox is:
https://what3words.com/parade.rear.gosh

There is a short ramp up to the front door. Press the buzzer for Torchbox to be let in. Then take the lift or stairs up to the 3rd Floor.

Explore why technical and business stakeholders often talk past each other.

Technical experts are increasingly being asked to lead, influence, and secure their organisations but many still feel like they're "speaking a different language" to business stakeholders.

In this session, you will:

• Explore why technical and business stakeholders often talk past each other.
• Learn how to reframe technical risks (e.g. phishing/social engineering) into clear business value and impact
• How to translater your initiatives into language that resonates with boards, execs, and managers

Who is it for?

• Security and technical practitioners
• Tech leaders, eningeers, and analysts who need more business support
• Anyone in cyber/tech who wants to build influence beyond the technical team

You'll leave with practical techniques you can start using in your next stakeholder meeting, not just theory.

A free monthly meet-up for creatives, artists and technologists interested in making things happen in/with communities.

A free monthly meet-up for creatives, artists and technologists interested in making things happen in/with communities.

Whether you already work with communities or are curious to begin, you’re welcome here - all that’s needed is a genuine interest in community-centred, collaborative ways of making.

Each CxAxT Meetup is a bit different depending on what the group asks for. This month is still TBC.

Please let us know if you have any access needs which you'd like support with, and we’ll do our best to meet them.

Got any questions ?

Email enquiries@kwmc.org.uk – we’d love to hear from you.