Silicon Brighton is where Brighton’s tech community meets to share ideas and bring people in tech & digital together. We get a lot of the same questions from new members, so here’s a quick Q&A to help you know what to expect when you join your very first Silicon Brighton event.
“What happens at your events?”
We support over 40 different meetup groups and the format of each event can vary: we have speaker talks and panels, casual gatherings at local pubs, online or in-person workshops, and demo nights. Despite this variety, all our meetups focus on providing a safe, friendly, inclusive environment for people from all backgrounds to learn, network, and make long-lasting connections.
“I’ve never been to a tech event before. What should I expect?”
When you join a Silicon Brighton event, you can expect a friendly and diverse group of people coming together to discuss and learn about a particular topic in tech. You will meet people from different backgrounds and areas of expertise. Some will be students, some will be teachers; some will be CEOs and founders, some will be regular employees; some will be developers, some will be designers; some will work in tech & digital, some will be looking for their first job in the industry. Our events are friendly and low-pressure – show up curious! Wear whatever’s comfortable and bring a few business cards or a digital contact card that you can exchange with people you meet.
“How do I join an event and is it free?”
Most of our events are free to join and will include pizza & drinks that are kindly provided by our sponsors & supporters. Some events will require you to sign up to secure your spot in advance (spaces can be limited depending on the venue and appetite for that particular event). A few events such as panels or conferences are ticketed or donation-based and you will need to purchase a ticket to attend – this will be clearly stated in the event page.
“Can I speak at an event or suggest a topic?”
Yes, we welcome speaker suggestions and local voices. If you’ve got a practical talk, a case study, a workshop idea or a panel proposal, you can drop us a message via email, our website, our LinkedIn page, or our Slack channel.
“What if I’m a student or looking for a job?”
Students and job seekers are most welcome. Feel free to bring questions, portfolio work or projects you’re proud of. For job seekers, we recommend checking our events calendar for demo days, hiring panels or “meet the founder” sessions. One of the main reasons we started Silicon Brighton was to facilitate interactions between people in the industry and those looking to join. Networking at meetups often leads to informal introductions and opportunities that don’t appear on job boards.
“What community rules should I follow?”
Be respectful, listen, stay curious, and give other people space to speak. Our events are about building relationships and sharing knowledge. No hard selling! Everyone is welcome to take photos or record videos, just make sure you ask for people’s permission first (some people don’t want to have their faces/identities shared online without their knowing or consent). In doubt, our meetup organisers will be happy to answer any question you might have. If an organiser or speaker asks for help or feedback, don’t be afraid to pitch in – community events run because people volunteer their time to make it happen.
“Are all events in person or can I join online?”
Many events are hybrid and/or recorded & uploaded to our YouTube channel, so you can (re)watch past talks and events for free at any time. Other events, such as casual gatherings at a pub, are usually not recorded and you will have to attend in person. Most of our events happen weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or every other month, meaning you will always have another chance to join us.
“How do you handle accessibility and inclusion?”
We aim to make our events welcoming and as accessible as possible. Venue accessibility details are included on event pages where possible, and we’re always happy to answer specific accessibility questions via email, website, social media, or Slack. We also strive for diverse speakers and content. If you have feedback or suggestions for improvement, don’t hesitate to share with us.
“How can I stay in touch after an event?”
We encourage you to join our Slack channel, where you can connect with thousands of people including meetup organisers, tech founders and leaders, hiring managers, job seekers, teams, speakers, attendees, and other tech enthusiasts (and if you’re only interested in one particular meetup group or topic, you will certainly find a channel on there dedicated to it!). You can also follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram and/or subscribe to our monthly newsletter to receive all the latest news & updates from our tech community straight to your inbox. Finally, you can drop us an email at [email protected].
We hope to see you soon!