We are excited to announce the first-ever Data City Summit, marking a significant milestone in our mission to build the new standard industrial classification system.
This invite-only event, taking place on the 7th November in Leeds, will bring together our partners, clients, colleagues, customers, and friends to celebrate the transformative power of data and its impact on shaping industries.
What is The Data City Summit?
We love speaking with our clients and fellow data nerds. We’re constantly blown away by the community’s groundbreaking work and impact. So, we thought, why not get everyone in the same room?
The Data City Summit isn’t just an event, it’s a celebration of how data can transform the world. Join us in the heart of Leeds for this inaugural summit, where our community of data pioneers will come together to showcase their groundbreaking work.
At this exclusive event, you’ll have the opportunity to learn from visionary data scientists, economists, policymakers, academics, and investors. You’ll also get insights into the latest innovations at The Data City and discover cutting-edge projects that are driving change across industries.
Plus, free lunch and drinks!
The agenda
The summit will feature keynote presentations, panel discussions, and networking opportunities with industry leaders. The summit is split into two session, with speakers and talks running over the course of an afternoon.
Welcome lunch 12:00
Sign in and join us for some food and refreshments at 12:00 then grab a set before the talks start at 12:30.
Session one – 12:30 – 14:30
Welcome from The Data City
- Paul Connell – Chair / Co-founder, The Data City
Innovations from The Data City
We’ll give an overview of the latest developments from The Data City team, with a spotlight on our global platform, Real-Time SIC codes (RSICs) and more.
Speakers:
- Alex Craven – CEO / Co-founder, The Data City
- Tom Forth – CTO / Co-founder, The Data City
Digital Transformation: Why startups matter, and the global innovation race
Join Dealroom for an in-depth analysis of the critical role startups play in driving economic growth. Explore global benchmarking of leading and emerging tech hubs, and discover how the landscape of innovation is evolving in the age of deep tech and AI.
Speakers:
- Orla Browne – Head of Insights, Dealroom
Female Founders Insight Series: Celebrating the top female entrepreneurs in the UK
Join EY and Panintelligence as they discuss the Female Founders Insight Series, which uses data to highlight the impact of female-founded businesses in the UK. Discover how these insights, revealing a £7bn contribution to the economy, can support the next generation of women entrepreneurs.
Speakers:
- Lynn Rattigan – Senior Partner, EY
- Charles Watson – Manager, AI & Data, Technology Consulting, EY
At The Frontier: The geography of the UK’s new economy
As the Government prepares to develop its industrial strategy, Paul Swinney from Centre for Cities explores insights from The Data City data to reveal where the cutting edge of the UK economy lies. Discover what this means for the future of the strategy and how it could shape regional growth and innovation.
Speakers:
- Paul Swinney – Director of Policy & Research, Centre for Cities
The Lifted Project: A data led approach to increasing the flow of capital to high growth female founders.
The Lifted Project, supported by Lloyds Bank, is using data with a regional lens to focus activities which amplify location based strengths and opportunities for increasing the flow of investment to female founders. The first tranche of activity has focused on activating Regional Boards in five UK cities: Birmingham, Liverpool, Leeds, Newcastle and Edinburgh. This session shares some of the unique insights gained and how data is set to bring more attention to female entrepreneurialism outside of the capital
Panel:
- Zandra Moore – CEO, Panintelligence
- Jordan Dargue – Co-founder, Lifted Ventures
- Natalie Boswell – Regional Development Director, Lloyds Banking Group
- Alex Craven – CEO / Co-founder, The Data City
Break 14:30
After the first session of the afternoon, there will be time to stretch your legs and grab a drink before the second session begins.
Session two – 15:00 – 16:30
Building a future-ready workforce
Talent is scarce, especially with a shortage of young workers. Regions will face the challenge of replacing older workers as they retire. Two key strategies are increasing the young workforce and tapping into immigration. Lightcast’s index measures a region’s ability to respond to these challenges by assessing its economic strengths, demographic trends, and future-ready skills. This allows us to rank cities globally and within the UK, providing insights into where cities like Leeds stand.
Speakers:
- Will Cookson – Director for Communities & Government, Lightcast
- Duncan Brown – VP Global Innovation, Lightcast
Mapping the manufacturing supply chain
Discover how the High Value Manufacturing Catapult (HVMC), National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS), Strathclyde University and The Data City collaborated to begin mapping the manufacturing supply chain in the UK.
Speakers:
- Daniele Marini – Anchoring Innovation Manager, HVMC
Net Zero by 2050: Tracking green growth in the North
Learn how the Northern Powerhouse Partnership worked with The Data City to map and analyse the Net Zero sector for their latest report. We’ll cover key findings, the economic impact on the region, and what’s next for driving private investment and decarbonisation in the North.
Speakers:
- Tegan Massey – Policy Analyst, Northern Powerhouse Partnership
- Fatima Garcia – Consultant, The Data City
Understanding our economy to drive investment
This talk will draw on several projects within the Midlands Engine Partnership to showcase how the Data City platform is being used to identify, understand and target businesses to drive investment into the Midlands region – through clusters, universities and local growth partners.
Speakers:
- Joshua Hawkins – Head of Global & Investment, Midlands Engine Observatory
- Lukasz Gasienca-Fronek – Economic Intelligence & Policy Analyst, Midlands Engine Observatory
Drinks & networking – 17:00 – onwards
Talks will conclude by 5pm, but please do stick around. There will be drinks on offer and space to chat to fellow attendees and network afterwards.
This is your opportunity to connect with industry leaders and explore the innovative projects shaping economic development, sustainability, and entrepreneurial growth across multiple sectors.
Key themes for this event include real-time industry classification, inclusive growth, innovation ecosystems, net zero strategies, the role of startups in the digital economy, and the future of female entrepreneurship.
Venue & details
- When? Thursday 7th November
- What time? 12pm to 5pm
- Where? Sedulo, Leeds
The summit will take place at Sedulo, a modern event space located in central Leeds, just a 7-minute walk from Leeds train station.
Address: Sedulo, The Ambler Club, St. Paul’s House, 23 Park Square S, Leeds LS1 2ND
How to attend
Please note, The Data City Summit 2024 is an invite-only event. If you’re a partner, client, or friend of The Data City, an invite for you and your colleagues is on its way.
If you haven’t heard from us or would like to register your interest, please get in touch today.
Spaces are limited, so don’t miss your chance to be part of this unique event.
