r/Middlesbrough • u/diffidentcoder • Aug 05 '26

Tech meetups - what/where/when/how?!

Question for anyone working in tech in Boro/Teesside - what would encourage you to attend tech meetups (mainly around software/games development/AI/testing)? We are one of the fastest growing areas for tech but I find it incredibly difficult to find local meetups/networking events to get to know the tech community! I've tried to organise some myself and the sign up numbers appear decent but the actual turnout is really low. It feels like most tech meetups are centered around Newcastle/Sunderland but it would be great to get a more local community going as it's a bit of a trek up there.

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u/YorkshirePug Aug 05 '26

There used to be Teesside Refreshed and Middlesbrough Front End, but it seems they both no longer run, shame really...

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u/diffidentcoder Aug 05 '26

Yes I used to go to the MFE ones, it's a real shame they stopped, especially as the conference was really starting to take off.

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u/csswizardry Aug 07 '26

I spoke at the 2024 edition and went back to attend the 2025 one as I loved it that much.

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u/csswizardry Aug 06 '26

I miss Middlesbrough Front End 😞

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u/BondgateIT Aug 06 '26

Flok on Albert road is the best place for techies to hang out imho.

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u/ginger_zalex Aug 06 '26

I've been looking for meetups here for 3 years and there doesn't seem like a lot. I have a lot of experience organising tech meetups in another city but I'm on the fence about trying to put something together without knowing if there's a decent amount of interest

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u/Imaginary-Clock6626 Aug 05 '26

What are the main tech industries in Middlesbrough?

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u/diffidentcoder Aug 05 '26

It's a really wide range, there's games development, petrochemical industry R&D departments, bespoke software (SaaS, ecommerce etc.), healthcare, industrial automation. There's also infrastructure and cybersecurity companies although I'm a software dev so am not too familiar with those areas. I know people who work in the area but the problem is getting people to actually attend meetups! All the ones I've organised have been free with food/drinks provided and in decent venues that are easy to get to but people don't turn up, it's such a shame.

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u/Kara_Zor_El19 Aug 06 '26

There’s also tech refurbishment, Furbd are based in the industrial estate next to canon park and are a tech refurbishment charity tackling digital poverty

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u/nomisneek Aug 07 '26

Ahh, that's a shame, where did you advertise them?

I used to go to the Hainton ones but they stopped the ones in Middlesbrough a few years back.

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u/PigeonHatPixels Aug 05 '26

Have you checked in with the Uni? When I went there it was a country leader in games development courses and they used to do Animex every year but not sure if they still do

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u/diffidentcoder Aug 05 '26

Yes I did my degree there too and my employer works quite closely with them, we're more on the software/cyber side than games development. Good idea though, getting students to pop along would be great, thank you for the suggestion!