Advertise on podcast: Sheffield Digital Podcast

This episode of the Sheffield Digital Podcast discusses the benefits and value of hosting work placements as part of The Sheffield College's T-Levels program. The discussions highlight how these placements help bridge the gap between education and the workforce, preparing students for future careers while also benefiting local businesses by nurturing homegrown talent. Tom King from Reach Studios shares his insights on mentoring T-Level students, the importance of industry placements, and his personal journey in the tech sector. He emphasises the significance of real-world experience for students, stating, “It's a way for us to provide the best opportunity possible for that next generation.” At the end of the episode, Shani Clifford, Head of Student Employability at The Sheffield College, discusses the importance of T-levels, their difference from A-levels, and the positive impact these placements are making on students. She also highlights the support and opportunities provided to students and employers involved in the program. Links T-Levels at The Sheffield College website Reach Studios website The Sheffield College website Tom King on LinkedIn Shani Clifford on LinkedIn Contacts The Sheffield College - Work Related Activity Team [email protected] Recording information The interview with Tom King was recorded on 20th August 2025. The interview with Shani Clifford was recorded on 21st May 2025. Subscribe to the podcast If you’d like to have new episodes of the show appear right in your podcast player, you can subscribe via our page on Apple Podcasts and follow the show on Spotify, or search for us in your podcast app of choice! Join the conversation We’re really keen to get your feedback on the podcast. You can email [email protected] Thank you for the music Thanks to Alex Mclean – aka Yaxu – for the show’s intro music, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Angel shares her unconventional career path, transitioning from over 20 years in the food industry to the tech world and eventually founding her own consultancy. She discusses the inspiration behind her career change, the importance of continual learning, and her expertise in using playful methodologies like LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® and AI Design Sprints™ to help organizations navigate change and develop strategies.  Angel emphasises the value of resilience, curiosity, and a hands-on approach in her journey. She also touches on her experiences in sketching, the challenges and rewards of starting anew in a different industry, and her vision for the future of her consultancy. This episode is a must-listen for anyone considering a major career change. Angel has a background in Product Development, Project Management, User Experience, User Research, and Service Design, and favours analogue methods for digital problems, creating fun and engaging workshops for remarkable results. Before co-founding Dot & Dash Consulting, she led the development of innovative food products for major brands. With over 20 years as a consultant and a pivot to the digital sector, her vast experience in manufacturing, health, education, mobile gaming, betting, and design fuels her innovative ideas. Angel holds certifications as an AI Design Sprint™ Facilitator, along with being a LEGO® Serious Play® method and materials facilitator, Scrum Master, and Design Sprint Facilitator. Additionally, she plays leadership and director roles in volunteer organisations. Subscribe to the podcast If you’d like to have new episodes of the show appear right in your podcast player, you can subscribe via our page on Apple Podcasts and follow the show on Spotify, or search for us in your podcast app of choice! Notes and Links This interview was recorded online by Sarah Lister on 28th May 2025. Links Dot & Dash Consulting - website Dot & Dash Consulting - Sheffield Digital Company Spotlight  Angel Takooree on LinkedIn Did we miss something you’re looking for? Just get in touch and let us know.  Join the conversation We’re really keen to get your feedback on the podcast. You can email [email protected] Thank you for the music Thanks to Alex Mclean – aka Yaxu – for the show’s intro music, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

In this episode, we interview Kieran, a Senior Product Manager from the Home Office's Police and Public Protection Technology portfolio. Kieran discusses his role in managing the product lifecycle, his career journey from university to the Home Office, and the diverse skill set required for his job.  Kieran also shares his experiences as an LGBTQ+ professional, highlighting the inclusive culture and meaningful support he’s received while working with the Home Office, and describes how being neurodiverse has positively impacted his career. Subscribe to the podcast If you’d like to have new episodes of the show appear right in your podcast player, you can subscribe via our page on Apple Podcasts and follow the show on Spotify, or search for us in your podcast app of choice! Notes and Links This interview was recorded online by Sarah Lister, Membership Coordinator at Sheffield Digital, on 5th June 2025.  Links Home Office Careers: https://careers.homeoffice.gov.uk/ References Home Office Digital University of East Anglia (UEA) Did we miss something you’re looking for? Just get in touch and let us know.  Join the conversation We’re really keen to get your feedback on the podcast. You can email [email protected] Thank you for the music Thanks to Alex Mclean – aka Yaxu – for the show’s intro music, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Katie Fenn and Amy Benson, organisers of Front End North, discuss their involvement in the Sheffield tech community and the upcoming Front End North conference. Scheduled for 10th July 2025 at Sheffield Hallam University, the event will feature eight talks covering a range of topics including design, software development, and accessibility.  They emphasise the importance of an accessible, low-cost event to include a diverse range of attendees and speakers. The selection process for talks involved an anonymised system to ensure fairness. They also highlight their motivations for organising the event and why they want to put Sheffield on the map for this type of event. Amy is part-time Senior Software Engineer at Hive IT, and full-time Social Research student. Katie is Senior Developer at the Financial Times. She’s a member of The Green Party, LGBTIQA+ Greens, and Greens for HS2. She loves cycling, fiddling with bikes, and also has a collection of synthesisers! She gave a talk at State of the Browser in 2024 about making the music of Daft Punk using a browser and a MIDI controller! Subscribe to the podcast If you’d like to have new episodes of the show appear right in your podcast player, you can subscribe via our page on Apple Podcasts and follow the show on Spotify, or search for us in your podcast app of choice! Links Front End North website Front End Sheffield Meetup website Front End North on LinkedIn Front End Sheffield on LinkedIn Front End North on Bluesky Front End Sheffield on Bluesky Front End North on Mastodon Katie Fenn on LinkedIn Amy Benson on LinkedIn References Hive IT All Day Hey! ffconf State of the Browser Pixel Pioneers Make Do Dave Letorey Other Front End North Conference organisers Ian Parr Lee Moody Tom Heaton Did we miss something you’re looking for? Just a href="http://sheffield.digital/contact" rel="noopener...

In this episode you’ll find out why Sheffield Digital was set up ten years ago, what has happened over the years, and what the future holds. Mel and Chris, two of the Co-founders and Directors, return to the podcast to celebrate ten years of Sheffield Digital. They discuss whether their initial expectations for Sheffield Digital have been met, most memorable moments, biggest achievements and changes, and what is still to be done. Note: Sorry for the low quality sound at the start of this episode. It improves after the first 10 minutes. Subscribe to the podcast If you’d like to have new episodes of the show appear right in your podcast player, you can subscribe via our page on Apple Podcasts and follow the show on Spotify, or search for us in your podcast app of choice! Links Sheffield Digital Chris Dymond  Mel Kanarek About Sheffield Digital References Tech Nation Sheffield Digital Showcase Sheffield Digital Slack GeekBrekky Newsletter Join the conversation We’re really keen to hear your most memorable moments, and the biggest achievements and changes you’ve seen in the community and city over the last ten years. You can share your thoughts with us on the channel in the Sheffield Digital Slack community or email [email protected].

Richard Kerr shares his career path to becoming Business Development Manager at Hydra Creative. His story includes why he changed his degree from Architecture to English Language and Literature, how being a chef got him into Marketing, and what he does in his job now. Hydra Creative is a full-service digital marketing agency. Services include bespoke website design & development, graphic design & branding, digital marketing (including SEO and PPC), and video & multimedia. Subscribe to the podcast If you’d like to have new episodes of the show appear right in your podcast player, you can subscribe via our page on Apple Podcasts and follow the show on Spotify, or search for us in your podcast app of choice! Notes and Links Richard was interviewed online by Sarah Lister, Membership Coordinator at Sheffield Digital, on 11th December 2024. Links Hydra Creative Richard Kerr on LinkedIn References Sheffield Hallam University: https://www.shu.ac.uk/ Did we miss something you’re looking for? Just get in touch and let us know.  Join the conversation We’re really keen to get your feedback on the podcast. You can share your thoughts with us on the channel in the Sheffield Digital Slack community or email [email protected]. Thank you for the music Thanks to Alex Mclean – aka Yaxu – for the show’s intro music, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

This episode features an interview with Sophie from the Home Office. Sophie is Head of Data Science for Automation and Innovation at Home Office Digital. Sophie tells us about what her job involves, her pathway into tech, and what it’s like balancing work and motherhood. Subscribe to the podcast If you’d like to have new episodes of the show appear right in your podcast player, you can subscribe via our page on Apple Podcasts and follow the show on Spotify, or search for us in your podcast app of choice! Notes and Links This interview was recorded online by Sarah Lister, Membership Coordinator at Sheffield Digital, on 18th December 2024.  Links Home Office Careers: https://careers.homeoffice.gov.uk/ References Home Office Digital Department for Education (DFE) Did we miss something you’re looking for? Just get in touch and let us know.  Join the conversation We’re really keen to get your feedback on the podcast. You can email [email protected] Thank you for the music Thanks to Alex Mclean – aka Yaxu – for the show’s intro music, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Just imagine if you could sit down with a solicitor specialising in Intellectual Property (IP) and ask them everything you need to know at the beginning of your tech journey. Well, we did just that with Kerry Russell, an IP Lawyer at Shakespeare Martineau, which is one of our Associate Sponsors.  Kerry gives us an overview of IP and the main IP rights that people need to know about, then she responds to some questions sent in by our community. If you want to go straight to the questions then please skip to 22 minutes into the episode. Question 1: What’s the best way to protect your side project from being copied? Question 2: What do you think is currently the most efficient method of commercialising shared IP and how do you see this evolving over the next 5 years? Question 3: How quickly do you think the law will catch up to advanced technology and its uses in assigning ownership and governance over IP - for instance using NFTs to assign IP ownership is currently possible. Will it stay that way or is it likely to change when the law catches up? Subscribe to the podcast If you’d like to have new episodes of the show appear right in your podcast player, you can subscribe via our page on Apple Podcasts and follow the show on Spotify, or search for us in your podcast app of choice! Notes and Links This interview was recorded online by Sarah Lister, Membership Coordinator at Sheffield Digital, on 14th November 2024.  References Sheffield Digital Slack community Sheffield Technology Parks Intellectual Property Office The IPKat World IP Review The Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys | CIPA Licensing Executives Society International International Trademark Association Links Shakespeare Martineau website Shakespeare Martineau LinkedIn Contact Kerry [email protected] Join the conversation We’re really keen to get your feedback on the podcast. You can share your thoughts with us on Twitter or on the channel in the Sheffield Digital Slack community. Thank you for the music Thanks to Alex Mclean – aka Yaxu – for the show’s intro music, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

This episode features an interview with Odette McHenry and Hannah Turner from the UK Home Office. Odette is Deputy Director for Automation and Innovation in the Home Office Digital Department. Hannah is the Head of Commissioning for Automation and AI.  Odette and Hannah tell us about what their individual jobs involve, the unique pathways they have taken towards working in tech, and what they are most excited about in automation and AI at the moment. At the end they each offer a bit of advice to anyone interested in working in automation. Subscribe to the podcast If you’d like to have new episodes of the show appear right in your podcast player, you can subscribe via our page on Apple Podcasts and follow the show on Spotify, or search for us in your podcast app of choice! Notes and Links This interview was recorded online by Sarah Lister, Membership Coordinator at Sheffield Digital, on 4th September 2024.  References Home Office Digital Did we miss something you’re looking for? Just get in touch and let us know.  Join the conversation We’re really keen to get your feedback on the podcast. You can share your thoughts with us on Twitter or on the channel in the Sheffield Digital Slack community. Thank you for the music Thanks to Alex Mclean – aka Yaxu – for the show’s intro music, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Grace Accad, co-organiser of the SheffieldR Users Group Meetup, tells us what to expect from the events they hold, the wide range of topics they cover, and who usually attends. She also shares why she put herself forward to join the organising team. This is your chance to find out about other similar meetups in Sheffield. These include Sheffield Data Analytics User Group and R-Ladies Sheffield. Subscribe to the podcast If you’d like to have new episodes of the show appear right in your podcast player, you can subscribe via our page on Apple Podcasts and follow the show on Spotify, or search for us in your podcast app of choice! Notes and Links Grace was interviewed online by Sarah Lister, Membership Coordinator at Sheffield Digital, on 11th October 2024. Links Sheffield R WebsiteSheffield R Meetup pageR-Ladies Sheffield Meetup PageSheffield Data Analytics User Group References University of SheffieldR-Ladies Global  Did we miss something you’re looking for? Just get in touch and let us know.  Join the conversation We’re really keen to get your feedback on the podcast. You can share your thoughts with us on Twitter or on the channel in the Sheffield Digital Slack community. Thank you for the music Thanks to Alex Mclean – aka Yaxu – for the show’s intro music, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Gary Neville, co-organiser and co-host of the Sheffield Startup Meetup, shares the challenges of running a community startup event, explains the success of the format, and tells us about the common shared realities of the founder's journey. Gary touches on some of the risks attached to becoming a founder, emphasises the importance of encouraging diversity of thought within teams, and says that it is absolutely critical to have failures if you’re going to run a startup.  Subscribe to the podcast If you’d like to have new episodes of the show appear right in your podcast player, you can subscribe via our page on Apple Podcasts and follow the show on Spotify, or search for us in your podcast app of choice! Notes and Links Gary was interviewed online by Sarah Lister, Membership Coordinator at Sheffield Digital, on 11th June 2024. Links Sheffield Startup Meetup Gary Neville on LinkedIn Dan Blaney on LinkedIn References Sheffield Tech Parks Cooper Project Emma Marshall on LinkedIn Tom Wolfenden on LinkedIn Future Greens TUBR Razor Tracey Johnson  DMC Ceri Betchalder Chris Dymond Peter Hopton Barnsley Startup Meetup Front End Sheffield SYMCA GoSheffield Meetup Triple Point Brewery AMRC Did we miss something you’re looking for? Just get in touch and let us know.  Join the conversation We’re...

Giorgio Cassella, Managing Director at Evoluted, shares the story behind the roots and growth of Sheffield Digital Marketing Meetup - also known as Sheffield DM.  Since launching in 2018, the meetup has evolved and changed – particularly in response to the pandemic – whilst staying true to the principle of giving something back to the marketing community, celebrating talent, and supporting professional development. Tune in to this 30 minute interview to find out what to expect from the summer event in July 2024 and to receive a 25% discount off tickets.  Sheffield DM Summer ‘24 Discount  Tickets for the conference are available here and the discount code is SHF-DIGITAL for 25% off. Reach out to Giorgio directly for bulk tickets discounts for 5+ people; or discounted student/charity tickets: [email protected] Subscribe to the podcast If you’d like to have new episodes of the show appear right in your podcast player, you can subscribe via our page on Apple Podcasts and follow the show on Spotify, or search for us in your podcast app of choice! Notes and Links Giorgio was interviewed online by Sarah Lister, Membership Coordinator at Sheffield Digital, on 16th May 2024. Links Sheffield DM Sheffield DM Summer ‘24 Evoluted Sheffield DM on LinkedIn Giorgio Cassella on LinkedIn Follow Sheffield DM on X Nottingham DM on LinkedIn References Sam Biggins Sheffield Tap Did we miss something you’re looking for? Just get in touch and let us know.  Join the conversation We’re really keen to get your feedback on the podcast. You can share your thoughts with us on Twitter or on the channel in the Sheffield Digital Slack community. Thank you for the music Thanks to Alex Mclean – aka Yaxu – for the show’s intro music, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Joy Quan shares her journey from starting out as an international student at the University of Sheffield to becoming the Managing Director at Appt China in Kunming. Appt is an international digital agency specialising in bespoke app, web and software development and digital communications in the UK and China. Joy tells us what it was like arriving in Sheffield as a Postgraduate student, how she found the opportunity to join Appt as an intern, why the company founders decided to open an office in China, and what her role as Managing Director mainly involves doing. She also talks about some of the challenges for international students, including language barriers and knowing where to find opportunities. She says that she found her dream job after her studies at the University of Sheffield. Hear this and much more in the 30 minute interview between Joy and Sarah Lister. Subscribe to the podcast If you’d like to have new episodes of the show appear right in your podcast player, you can subscribe via our page on Apple Podcasts and follow the show on Spotify, or search for us in your podcast app of choice! Notes and Links Joy was interviewed online by Sarah Lister, Membership Coordinator at Sheffield Digital, on 26th October 2023. Links Appt Joy Quan on LinkedIn References University of Sheffield Jon Bollinger Anna Bollinger Did we miss something you’re looking for? Just get in touch and let us know.  Join the conversation We’re really keen to get your feedback on the podcast. You can share your thoughts with us on Twitter or on the channel in the Sheffield Digital Slack community. Thank you for the music Thanks to Alex Mclean – aka Yaxu – for the show’s intro music, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

This episode of the Sheffield Digital podcast features a group interview with four apprentices working at Tes Global. In collaboration with Makers, Tes offered the opportunity for those passionate about tech to retrain, learn to code, and launch a new career in software development. Jack Thacker, Noelia Perez Marin, Sonia Taylor and Jose Lopez Guerrero were invited to this interview to share what their experiences have been like so far, and what they are looking forward to next.  Before starting the apprenticeship: Noelia worked as a graphic designer for many years, specialising in merchandising.Jack was first a student and then a writer and researcher in English Literature.Sonia was working in charity.Jose was working in hospitality as a receptionist and then had a job in finance, in the customer service line for shareholders. Each guest shares why they decided to make a career change, what skills and knowledge they are bringing from previous roles, and how Tes is supporting them throughout the experience. Other topics they touch on include imposter syndrome, diversity of people, and advice for people considering applying for a similar apprenticeship. Subscribe to the podcast If you’d like to have new episodes of the show appear right in your podcast player, you can subscribe via our page on Apple Podcasts and follow the show on Spotify, or search for us in your podcast app of choice! Notes and Links The apprentices were interviewed online by Sarah Lister, Membership Coordinator at Sheffield Digital, on 8th August 2023. Every episode comes with a list of links to the companies we reference: Links Tes website  References Makers Academy: https://makers.tech/become/apprentice/ Code Academy: https://www.codecademy.com/ Did we miss something you’re looking for? Just get in touch and let us know.  Join the conversation We’re really keen to get your feedback on the podcast. You can share your thoughts with us on Twitter or on the channel in the Sheffield Digital Slack community. Thank you for the music Thanks to Alex Mclean – aka Yaxu – for the show’s intro music, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

How did you get here? Dan Kirby shares his journey to becoming Co-Founder and CEO of The Tech Dept, specialists in working with early-stage startups, particularly impact startups. Their mission is to help impact founders do good at scale.  Dan tells us about his life as an entrepreneur since 2001, the highs and lows of running a business, and why he started a podcast called “Honey, I blew up the business” which has reached the top 2.5% of global podcasts and is listened to in 44 countries. Guests on the show talk about what it's really like to be a founder; what it's like to face your demons and come out the other side as a better person and a better entrepreneur. In this interview Dan shares some of the themes covered on his show, including fear, ego and intuition. He says that “...having an idea and having the freedom to pursue it, that is itself a form of success.” Hear this and much more in the 30 minute interview between Dan and Sarah Lister. Subscribe to the podcast If you’d like to have new episodes of the show appear right in your podcast player, you can subscribe via our page on Apple Podcasts and follow the show on Spotify, or search for us in your podcast app of choice! Notes and Links Dan was interviewed online by Sarah Lister, Membership Coordinator at Sheffield Digital, on 23rd June 2023. Every episode comes with a list of links to the companies we reference: The Tech Dept websiteHoney, I blew up the business podcastDan Kirby on LinkedInRichard Grundy on LinkedIn References The Tech OffTech Off movie pilot'Extreme Ownership’ by Jocko WillinkThe Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness & Healing in a Toxic Culture by Gabor MatéInner Engineering by Sadhguru Did we miss something you’re looking for? Just get in touch and let us know.  Join the conversation We’re really keen to get your feedback on the podcast. You can share your thoughts with us on Twitter or on the channel in the Sheffield Digital Slack community. Thank you for the music Thanks to Alex Mclean – aka Yaxu – for the show’s intro music, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.