Past Events

DIZ Collaboration with Connected Places Catapult

Join Connected Places Catapult and Essex + Herts Digital Innovation Zone (DIZ) for a free networking lunch followed by a vibrant discussion of how disruptive change can be driven and key challenges such as climate change tackled through collaborative innovation and cluster activities. 

Whether you are an innovative start-up or SME residing within the DIZ, you are from industry, or you are simply curious about the ground-breaking innovation endeavoured within the region, this event is for you. It is a fantastic opportunity to network and connect with other local SMEs and larger organisations, across a number of sectors, including digital and sustainability. 

Civic Centre, The Water Gardens, College Square, Harlow, CM20 1WG
8th September 2022
11:00am – 2:40pm
DIZ Online Smart Place Seminar – 9th December 2022

What Can 5G Do for Us?

A DIZ Smart Place Seminar exploring just what 5G, and the applications it will support, could mean for a place like the DIZ. Hear from our line-up of speakers from local, national and international organisations as they look at:

– what the 5G scene looks like today and why it will be so important for the future growth of places;

– how public sector assets are being used to encourage the faster and further rollout of 5g networks to ensure communities benefit from the networks;

– how the DIZ is working to promote this place as a beacon for 5G innovation and developing resources to support public sector organisations on their own 5G journey;

– what use cases are pushing the deployment of 5G across Europe and supporting the aspirations of local government and their citizens

A recording of the event can be viewed using the link opposite which can be expanded to full screen.

 An Executive Report from the event will be made available soon.

DIZ Online Smart Place Seminar – 13th May 2022

How Can Digital Help Save The Planet

A DIZ Smart Place Seminar exploring how digital technology, applications and platforms can support efforts to address climate change impacts. The seminar brought together expert voices from global thought leaders at Jacobs, Microsoft, CGI and Mobile UK, with an audience drawn from business, education, government, voluntary and community groups and the health sector to explore how we can collaborate to maximise the impact of digital investments and new ways of working.

A recording of the event can be viewed using the link opposite which can be expanded to full screen.

Click here for the Executive Report from the event

DIZ First Online Smart Place Seminar of 2021

Digital Skills: Embracing the Transformation

An online smart place seminar discussing digital skills for life, infrastructure, medtech and life sciences.

Digital Leaders Week – October 2020

How Can Digital Save Our Highstreets?

At a time where our high streets are facing unprecedented challenges we took a look at how digital can help support the traditional high streets to make the most of online opportunities, maximise engagement through social media and drive footfall by giving shoppers the confidence to return.

https://week.digileaders.com/talks/how-can-digital-save-the-high-street/

Building A ‘Placed-Based’ Digital Collaboration – June 2020

A panel discussion that examines the importance of ‘place based collaboration’ when exploring the opportunities of digital and, in particular, its application in places that are not single cities or large towns.

With a panel of experts taking the perspectives of health, the citizen, the economy and smart technology the discussion will also consider the experiences so far of the Essex + Herts Digital Innovation Zone, a cross-border, cross-sector partnership that brings together representatives from the local government, health, education, community and voluntary and private sectors. The partnership covers five districts, in two counties across two LEP areas and is a mix of small market towns, villages and rural countryside with a combined population similar to that of small city.

Hosted by Cllr Linda Haysey, Leader of East Herts DC we are delighted to welcome onto our panel Rick Robinson, Director, Smart Places, Digital Infrastructure and Telecommunications at Jacobs and Clive Emmett, Chief Executive at CVS Uttlesford.

The UK Innovation Corridor – February 2020

Be Part of the Next Generation of Digital Adoption

The adoption and use of technology are a vital contributor to economic growth and improved productivity. It’s no surprise that the demand for digital connectivity is accelerating exponentially.

The UK’s Innovation Corridor partnered with the North London Chamber of Commerce & Enterprise and the Essex + Herts Digital Innovation Zone to bring together a convened audience to tackle this topic and explore the potential for joint action at a corridor scale.

Smart Place Seminar 5 – April 2019

Empowering Community and Voluntary Services Through Digital

Addressing digital inclusion and giving CVS organisations the skills, tools and digital approaches they need to both effectively operate in an increasingly digital environment and deliver services to users who now look to access the services they want, at a time and through a channel of their choosing.

Speakers: Felilx Macpherson, Samaritans; Tristan Stanton, NHS England: Helen Dobson, Citizens Online; David Alexander, Mydex CIC; Zoe Amar; Ellie Hale, CAST; Veronica Sadowsky, Carers First; Kerry McGowan, The HR Specialists

Smart Place Seminar 4 – December 2018

Future-Proofing Garden Towns Through Digital

An exploration of the ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity to look at how digital infrastructure and approaches could enable these communities to be prosperous, inclusive and healthy from the outset.

Speakers: John Houston, One Epping Forest; Claire Hamilton, Harlow & Gilston Garden Town; Michael Meredith, Princess Alexandra Hospital; Rick Robinson, Arup; Adrian Wooster, Gigaclear; Jenny Lloyd, Nesta

Smart Place Seminar Symposium

Meeting the Herts & Essex Digital Skills Challenge Together

Bringing together representatives from across the five district areas of West Essex and Eastern Hertfordshire to review the initial findings and consultation undertaken by Arup to develop the digital innovation strategy. Engaging with health, district and county councils, further/higher education, local and regional businesses, infrastructure providers and the voluntary and community sector to produce a strategy that will deliver positive outcomes for everyone.

Speakers: John Houston, One Epping Forest; Rick Robinson, Ina Dimireva and Zach Wilcox, Arup

Smart Place Seminar 3 – February 2018

Meeting the Digital Skills Challenge

An examination of the implications of digital for the modern world of work. How will the gig economy affect the skills requirements of employers and how will they attract and retain the right employees.

Speakers: Russell Beck, Impellam Group; Karen Spencer, Harlow College; Clare Morris, ReThink Partners

Smart Place Seminar 2 – September 2017

Digital Innovation for Health & Social Care

Focusing on how innovative digital applications that can be carried by modern connectivity infrastructure can support health and social care and how we transform the services we deliver to maximise the capability of new technology

Speakers: David Wilde, Essex CC; Joe Foster, Easel TV; Michael Bear, Public Health England; Jan Daan Luycks, KAO Data, Mark Harrop, BT

Smart Place Seminar 1

Collaborative Working and Digital Infrastructure

The inaugural DIZ Smart Place Seminar that brought together a range of interested local organisations to explore the opportunities for working together, across boundaries to encourage investment in connectivity infrastructure.

Speakers: David Wilde, Essex CC; Alex Perrin , Virgin Media; Joe Foster, Easel TV