The UK’s best-known gadget guru and television presenter Jason Bradbury has been announced as the keynote speaker at a one-day conference in Lincoln on 10^th March.

Jason, who went to school in Lincolnshire, will be sharing his passion for science and technology with delegates at the Lincolnshire Digital Conference at The Showroom Conference Centre.

The event, organised by Lincolnshire County Council’s onlincolnshire project and part-funded by the East Midlands European Regional Development Fund, is open to all businesses and will be free to attend.

In addition to Jason, Cllr Colin Davie, Executive Member for Economic Development at Lincolnshire County Council will be giving an update on the success of the onlincolnshire project so far.

Delegates will also have the chance to network with digital and creative businesses who will be exhibiting at the event and attend several workshops covering topics such as digital marketing and 3D printing.

Cllr Davie said he hopes the conference will become an annual event in the county’s business calendar.

“This conference follows on from a similar event in 2013 which was very well attended,” explained Cllr Davie.  “We hope this one will be just as successful and look forward to helping even more businesses benefit from the superfast broadband rollout.

“However, this is not just an opportunity to find out how the rollout is progressing across Lincolnshire but also how superfast broadband and digital technology can help your business to grow and find new customers not just locally but nationally and even internationally.

“We have lots of fantastic businesses in the county and it’s time we let more people know.

“I’m also delighted to have Jason Bradbury on board as he’s a gadget and technology maestro and regularly designs and builds his own gadgets. His recent projects include a ‘Heads up Display’ (HUD) for his girlfriend’s Nissan Micra, a £1 electronic lie detector and the world’s first wireless and wearable phone glove which I look forward to hearing more about!”

The Lincolnshire Digital Conference, which will start at 9.30am and close at 4pm, will be followed by the first ever Lincolnshire Digital Awards at Doubletree by Hilton Lincoln from 6.30pm until 10pm.

Organised by Stonebow Media, the awards will recognise businesses which are at the forefront of digital within the Greater Lincolnshire area.

Eight awards will be up for grabs including Digital Business of the Year, Best Digital Campaign, Best Use of New Technology (sponsored by onlincolnshire), Innovation in Web Design and Best Digital Startup. To find out about sponsorship opportunities or how to enter please visit www.lincsdigital.co

To book your free place at the Lincolnshire Digital Conference call Freephone 0300 80 80 120 or email onlincolnshire@lincs-chamber.co.uk

Join the conversation online using the event’s hashtag #GoDigital15

For more information about onlincolnshire please visit http://www.onlincolnshire.org

Ends

Notes to Editors:

About onlincolnshire

• onlincolnshire is a Lincolnshire County Council-run project which is part-funded by the East Midlands European Regional Development Fund Programme 2007 to 2013.
• In March 2013, the council signed a £48 million contract with BT to provide superfast broadband to at least 88% of county properties by 2016, with the remaining properties having access to at least of 2Mbps broadband. A further investment of £2.8 million was announced in February 2014 which has increased the number of properties to 89%.
• The contract with BT concentrates on an intervention area of over 150,000 premises where existing or planned commercial roll outs would not deliver superfast speeds.
• The Department for Communities and Local Government is the managing authority for the European Regional Development Fund Programme, which is one of the funds established by the European Commission to help local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support local businesses and create jobs. For more information visit www.communities.gov.uk/erdf
• Some internet users in rural Lincolnshire experience speeds of less than 1 Mbps. The UK’s average broadband speed is 12 Mbps, according to Ofcom.
• onlincolnshire also offers up to 12 hours of support and advice to eligible Lincolnshire businesses to help them make the most of their access to improved broadband. Specialist consultants provide demonstrations, workshops, masterclasses or one-to-one coaching and mentoring to businesses to improve their services, processes, productivity and profitability.

For further information or to arrange interviews, please contact:
Kate Strawson
Shooting Star PR
kate@weareshootingstar.co.uk
01522 528540
@KateStrawson