Leeds Digital Festival is a celebration of innovation and collaboration in digital culture. This year was one of the best yet for the Leeds digital community with over 205 events across Leeds, showcasing the ever-growing digital enterprise and innovation happening in the city.
Hippo was delighted to play a role in the Festival’s line-up, hosting nine unique events at our Hippocampus over the two weeks with talks, panels and workshops designed by our talented herd. We were also delighted to be shortlisted for three awards at the Leeds Digital Festival Awards, where our amazing team won Tech Team of the Year alongside NHS Notify and BJSS.
It’s been two weeks filled with learning, hard work, and most importantly, fun. Fun that has enriched the Leeds tech ecosystem and has allowed people to come together to share knowledge and learn from one another.
Working with others, innovating and collaborating to reach understanding
Together with partners, clients and other industry leaders, we hosted a series of events that highlighted the importance of collaboration and knowledge sharing, bringing fresh insights to the tech ecosystem.
Future of RetailTech: Innovations shaping the industry
This panel featured retail leaders such as Adrian Berry (Asda), Kerry Jenkin (Great Rail Journeys) and Catherine Shuttleworth (Savvy Marketing) exploring the latest consequential themes in the sector such as consumer loyalty and experience, increasing personalisation through data driven methodologies, and transformation – what the future holds for retailers and how they can adapt to meet future needs. The event underscored how retailers needed to be agile, and move quickly in a space that is constantly changing and how understanding data is fundamental to setting new standards in customer experience and operational efficiency.
Navigating the data complexities of the energy industry: From discovery to delivery
In partnership with ENGIE, Hippo led a discussion on overcoming challenges around the vast amounts of data produced in the energy sector. By bringing together experts in data management and agile working, and energy company experts, the session highlighted the importance of collaboration, open communication and trust. Furthermore, it demonstrated that by adapting and refining processes to find what fits the team and the project, you can navigate large, disparate and complex data landscapes, ensuring reliable insights that support decision-making.
From buzzwords to best practice: Why social value is a business essential
In this session, Hippo collaborated with our education partners Leeds Trinity University and UTC Leeds as well as several businesses across Leeds, to explore how embedding social value into a company culture can enhance recruitment, retention, and overall business success. The panel discussion provided practical advice for aligning company values with educational and community needs, helping organisations stay purpose-driven and give value back to the areas they work in.
Hack for good: Improving customer experience in the public sector
Another highlight of Hippo’s collaborative efforts was the Hack for Good event co-hosted with DWP Digital. This hackathon invited participants to develop creative, tech-driven solutions to improve public sector services. Teams worked together to generate impactful ideas that could enhance the lives of millions of UK citizens, demonstrating the power of tech for good.
Empowering through knowledge: Hippo’s independent sessions
Alongside co-hosting events, our team of Hippos also led independent sessions aimed at enriching learning and professional development. These sessions offered practical insights for attendees that they could take away to use in their work life. .
Creative research methods speed dating: This unique session, led by Rachel Abbott, introduced participants to several creative research methodologies that were explored throughout the all-day session by having the participants work through each method in groups or pairs.
Gamifying client engagement: Key themes for consultants: Stephanie Vincent hosted an engaging workshop on gamification, introducing the attendees to game-based concepts that would give them a reward structure that would allow them to break down actions and goals within their client relationships. The event focused on strategies for boosting engagement, improving client satisfaction, and fostering stronger relationships through creative and enjoyable methods.
A UCD approach to business analysis: Human first: Business analysts often face the challenge of balancing user needs with business objectives. This session aimed to bridge that gap. Hippo’s Elliott Seaton and Karen Cooper sat down with a multi-disciplinary panel from across the UCD and delivery space to share insights on applying human-centred design principles to business analysis, offering attendees practical strategies for collaborating with team members and getting the best out of a widely-skilled and expertised team.
User-centred delivery: Why it’s not just one or t’other: Ameya Krishnamoorthy brought us his expertise in service design, data, and public sector innovation in this session, which focused on integrating user-centred design practices into product delivery. Attendees learned to uncover hidden opportunities for improving user satisfaction and product outcomes through research, prototyping, and collaborative development approaches.
A festival of learning and collaboration
Leeds Digital Festival showcased the power of collective knowledge, as tech professionals from various sectors gathered to exchange ideas and explore cutting-edge innovations. The shared experiences and insights offered a chance for all attendees to strengthen their skills and make meaningful contributions to the future of their industries.
Hippo
Hippo is a trusted digital transformation partner, putting people first in design, data and delivery