Property聽company Bruntwood is sponsoring聽Leeds Digital Festival 2018 and will officially launch its new tech incubator at Platform on the festival鈥檚 opening day.
Leeds Digital Festival, now in its third year, takes place from April 16-27 with over 100 events celebrating the very best of digital technology in Leeds, from medtech, gaming, data and coding to start-ups and careers.
Platform鈥檚 tech incubator will officially launch on April 16th with the building also being a key venue for several of the festival鈥檚 events.
The launch celebrations will include a pitch event for companies shortlisted for a free desk, a high-profile roundtable discussion focussed on 鈥榓ccelerating growth in the tech sector鈥� which includes leaders from across Leeds鈥檚 digital and technology community and an evening reception from 5-8pm.
Bruntwood joins as an executive sponsor of the festival alongside cap hpi, Sky Betting and Gaming and 8 Outdoor with premier sponsors being Leeds City Council, the University of Leeds and VST Enterprises.
鈥淟eeds is already an innovation powerhouse, a leading location for digital tech innovators, but only through strong and determined partnerships will it be able to fulfil its huge potential and grow, compete, drive jobs and further investment,鈥� said Craig Burrow, director of Bruntwood in Leeds.
鈥淥ur support of Leeds Digital Festival is founded on our commitment to help the city drive this ambition and to make this great city region even greater.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 why we鈥檙e proud to support this year鈥檚 Leeds Digital Festival to further strengthen Leeds鈥檚 position as a centre for tech and digital excellence and we鈥檙e delighted that Platform will play a prominent part.鈥�
Platform鈥檚 tech incubator has been designed to support聽start-up and growing businesses.
It provides co-working and office space for organisations of up to 20 people, centred around shared spaces to facilitate collaboration between neighbours and encourage new ideas to flourish.
The incubator also runs a comprehensive business growth support programme in partnership with specialist national and local partners and includes access to finance and talent, as well as offering business mentoring and expert advice.
Since opening in November 2017, Platform has proved to be a popular location for businesses of all sizes with many digital and tech firms having already moved in, including mHabitat, Synap, Kwizzbit, Cloud Sense Solutions and LightStart.
Stuart Clarke, Leeds Digital Festival director, said: 鈥淲e want to work ever more closely with the city鈥檚 leading tech organisations and we鈥檙e delighted that Bruntwood is not only joining our incredible roster of sponsors, but also opening up Platform as one of the festival鈥檚 venues.
鈥淭he tech incubator at Platform is a great addition to the city鈥檚 assets and exists to help grow the sector by encouraging effective partnership working and to boost innovation in digital skills and technology.
鈥淲e have an achievable ambition in Leeds and the wider city region to effect the convergence of entrepreneurship and innovation and so create a greater number of high quality jobs and further business growth.
鈥淟eeds Digital Festival therefore not only celebrates our brilliant businesses and individuals, but also champions a sector which is becoming increasingly important in accelerating our economic performance and wellbeing.鈥�