On Wednesday 23rd October, we welcomed 65 of our most ambitious STEM students with a passion for tech to our inaugural Future Tech Innovators event. Hosted at RocketSpace, the home of some of the most innovative tech start-ups in the UK, this was the perfect venue for members to explore their career options in the tech industry and connect with our seven leading partner firms.
"I found the day insightful, motivational and inspiring and I learnt a lot from each of the panellists - a big thank you to them for sharing their insights, experiences and journeys! And thank you Bright Network for giving me the opportunity to connect with these fantastic companies and ask them questions - I now feel more confident in starting my career in the ever changing world of technology and I’m excited for the challenges that lie ahead!" - Future Tech Innovators Attendee
The day began with a keynote speech from Fiona Loftus, Senior Solution Architect at Capgemini, who told members about her career journey to date and gave them some key advice when starting-out in the tech industry: leverage the power of the internet in order to demonstrate your passion for technology through independent learning, and even if you find an area in tech that you adore, try and apply that knowledge to other areas of the sector in order to truly excel.
Next up was the skills session run by Bright Network’s Ben Triggs, where he gave attendees valuable advice for ensuring they stood out at every stage of the application process for tech-focused roles.
Students then moved into open networking, where they could personally connect with and have all their questions answered by our partner firms for the day: Accenture, Alfa, BlackRock, Capgemini, Capital One, Informed Solutions and Lloyds Banking Group.
"It was such an eye-opening day and an amazing insight into the tech industry and the professions within it. I felt so privileged to have met some of the inspirational people in the field and to have had the opportunity to network with top firms in the industry… I look forward to applying to spring weeks and internships with these fantastic companies." - Future Tech Innovators attendee
Towards the end of the day, we hosted a panel session with senior professionals from each of our partner firms, during which members could learn from the experiences of those that had been in the tech industry for many years. Members also had the opportunity to ask questions and address their own concerns as they launch their own tech career. Later on the disucssion turned to the broader implications of technology, particularly AI, on wider society.
Take a look at the rest of the photos from the day here.
Enjoyed reading about Future Tech Innovators?
Would you like to apply for one of our upcoming events? Register your interest here and be the first to know when applications open.