AI for Business: Lunch & Learn

⌖ Leeds · Platform

Hosted by The Curve

A closed-door Leeds discussion for senior leaders who need to prove whether AI is delivering commercial ROI, not simply generating more activity. Taking place at Platform in Leeds on 14 October 2026, from 8:30am to 10:30am, this focused breakfast session examines how organisations can move from tracking AI output to measuring genuine business impact. It is organised by The Curve and Hopton Analytics. From AI activity to defensible returns Many businesses can identify what AI is doing but struggle to quantify what it returns. Time may be saved without appearing in commercial reporting; licences and pilots can continue without clear ownership of the return; and apparent efficiency gains may be absorbed into costs rather than converted into greater capacity or fee growth. This session is a direct sequel to The Curve’s earlier AI Reality Check discussions in Sheffield and Leeds. It keeps the same reality-first approach while concentrating on one sharper question: is your AI paying for itself, or just staying busy? The conversation will explore: - Where AI is producing a number that can be defended in a board meeting, and where it remains activity without measurable impact - The “efficiency tax” created when saved time is not deliberately converted into value - How leaders can approach build-versus-buy decisions - The commercial risks of turning quickly built internal tools into products - Whether pricing for outcomes rather than hours is a credible option - The cost of investing now compared with the potential cost of waiting Who should attend? The event is designed for directors, C-suite executives and Heads of roles across all industries. It will be particularly relevant to senior leaders and commercial decision-makers responsible for AI investment, operational efficiency, pricing, capacity or technology strategy. The discussion will be led by Paul Ridgway, CEO of The Curve, and Simon Devine, Managing Director of Hopton Analytics. An open, confidential format… Register for this event

Sponsors: CGI

⌖ Leeds · Platform

Hosted by Software Crafters Leeds

Leeds AI Coding Dojo is a hands-on meetup exploring agentic development, AI-assisted coding and software craftsmanship in Leeds. Taking place on Wednesday 14 October 2026, from 6:00pm to 8:00pm BST, this practical session examines how rapidly improving AI tools are changing software engineering. As developers shift from writing every line themselves to reviewing AI-generated work, and accepting responsibility for the result, the event asks an important question: how can teams benefit from agentic development without losing control of quality? What to expect The evening combines discussion with a practical coding exercise. Participants will work through a simple kata using AI tooling, examining both the opportunities and the new or resurfacing problems created by wider AI adoption. The session will explore: - How agentic development is changing the software engineer’s role - The challenges involved in reviewing and taking responsibility for AI-generated code - How established software craftsmanship principles can mitigate those risks - Ways to remain in control of an AI-assisted development process - How to embrace useful automation without creating an unmaintainable mess Rather than focusing only on what AI can generate, the dojo puts engineering judgement, accountability and code quality at the centre of the conversation. The hands-on kata provides a shared problem around which attendees can test ideas, compare approaches and consider how craftsmanship practices apply when an AI agent participates in development. Who it’s for This meetup is relevant to software developers, engineers, architects and other practitioners interested in AI-assisted coding, software quality and modern development workflows. It should be particularly useful for anyone already experimenting with agentic tools, or wondering how their responsibilities change when AI produces more of the implementation. The kata is described as simple, making the format approachable, while the broader questions about review, control and craftsmanship offer plenty for experienced practitioners to discuss. Bring a laptop if you would like to code along. Food and drinks will be provided, including vegetarian and vegan options. View the event and registration details

⌖ Leeds · NatWest Accelerator

Hosted by Fleek Marketing

A free, hands-on AI supplier discovery workshop in Leeds for founders and business owners who want to win more deals. Buyers increasingly ask tools such as ChatGPT, Claude and Perplexity to recommend suppliers before visiting Google or contacting a business. If your company is missing from those AI-generated shortlists, you may never know that an opportunity existed. This practical session will help you discover what these tools currently say about your business, where their answers come from and what you can do to improve your visibility. Work on your own business This is a hands-on workshop rather than a conventional talk. During the 90-minute session, attendees will run their own businesses through AI tools live, record the results and compare them with the responses generated for competitors. You will then work through practical fixes designed to make your business easier for AI-powered search and recommendation tools to understand and surface. Led by Jonny Ross, Founder and Digital Strategy Lead at Fleek Marketing, the workshop connects AI discovery with the sales and marketing knowledge you already have. You will turn questions repeatedly asked during sales calls into useful content that can help prospective customers find and evaluate your company. You will leave with: - A written record of how AI tools present your business and its competitors - Five improvements you can make within a fortnight - Sales-call questions transformed into content ideas that support discovery - An AI research assistant, built during the workshop, to prepare for your next prospect meeting Who should attend? The session is designed for founders, owner-managers and anyone responsible for winning new business. No technical background is required. Bring a laptop or phone, as you will work directly on your own business throughout the event. This Catalyst Event is run with the Leeds NatWest Accelerator, whose series combines practical tools, expert insight and a supportive entrepreneurial community. It is relevant whether you are exploring the Accelerator, preparing to scale or simply curious about how AI is changing supplier selection.… Register for this event

Sponsors: NatWest Accelerator

⌖ Leeds · Platform

Hosted by The Curve

An executive breakfast roundtable in Leeds on 22 October 2026, exploring how data friction slows decisions, weakens forecasts and limits AI outcomes. Hosted by The Curve and Hopton Analytics, this focused, closed-door session will help senior leaders identify the hidden “data friction tax” affecting otherwise well-run organisations. It takes place from 8:30am to 10:30am at Platform, New Station Street, Leeds, with breakfast provided. What the roundtable will explore Leadership teams want faster decisions, dependable forecasts and AI that produces meaningful results. Yet many businesses still contend with reports that do not match, growth plans built on numbers people hesitate to trust, and decisions delayed by manual reconciliation. New systems may have been introduced, but the underlying problems often remain. Rather than concentrating on particular tools or presenting a technical sales pitch, the discussion will examine: - Where data friction is already restricting growth and creating missed opportunities - Why systems themselves are rarely the sole cause of the problem - How multiple versions of the truth and undocumented workarounds undermine confidence - What effective data practices look like in day-to-day business operations - Where AI can genuinely contribute, and where it is being asked to solve problems it cannot fix - The business outcomes that become possible when decision confidence improves The aim is practical: attendees should leave with a clearer understanding of their organisation’s current position, the cost of unresolved friction and what to address first to improve decision-making, forecasting and AI performance. Speakers and format The conversation will feature James Ridgway, Founder and CTO of The Curve. James brings more than ten years of development and consulting experience, including leadership of major software initiatives across multiple industries. View the event and registration details

Sponsors: CGI

⌖ Leeds · West Village - Bruntwood SciTech

Hosted by Bruntwood SciTech

Design and score a practical AI agent for your business in this two-hour, no-code workshop in Leeds on 3 November 2026. Rather than focusing on AI theory, this hands-on session helps you decide where AI could genuinely save time in your own working week. You’ll leave with a detailed agent specification, an assessment of its value, feasibility and risk, and a repeatable method for identifying future opportunities. What you’ll do - Discover what AI can and cannot currently do - Identify repetitive, rule-based and time-consuming work - Design an agent’s task, inputs, guardrails and measures of success - Score the idea using the same framework Zygens applies in client engagements The workshop is aimed at SME founders, operations and marketing professionals, and anyone ready to move from reading about AI to applying it. No coding or previous experience is required. Bring a laptop and a rough idea of how you spend your week. The session runs 2–4pm on Tuesday 3 November 2026 at West Village – Bruntwood SciTech, Wellington Street, Leeds LS1 1BA. AI Lab UK, the academy arm of Leeds-based agentic AI consultancy Zygens, is delivering it exclusively for Bruntwood SciTech customers and ecosystem members. The page also highlights founders Zandra Moore MBE and Charlie Bartle, whose backgrounds span enterprise AI, AI-native delivery and operational adoption. Get tickets

◎ Online

Hosted by JohnS

AIoT Hub Leeds is an online meetup for AI and Internet of Things enthusiasts, running from 6:00pm to 9:00pm on Tuesday 3 November 2026. Hosted by JohnS, this session is part of the recurring AIoT Hub Leeds community, formerly known as IoT North. The group brings together people interested in the intersection of artificial intelligence and connected technologies, offering a regular setting for talks and community discussion around AIoT. What to expect The event is designed around a presentation and discussion format. The precise session title, abstract and speaker biography are currently listed as TBA, so the specific subject and presenter have not yet been announced. Attendees should check the Meetup page nearer the date for the final programme and any additional participation details. Based in the Leeds community but delivered entirely online, the meetup is accessible without travelling to a physical venue. The joining link will be made visible to attendees through Meetup, so registration is required to access the session. This edition forms part of AIoT Hub’s established monthly series, scheduled for the first Tuesday of each month. That recurring format makes it a useful touchpoint for people who want to follow developments across AI and IoT, hear the community’s latest thinking and take part in conversations with others who share those interests. Who it’s for The meetup is relevant to: - AI and IoT enthusiasts interested in where the two fields overlap - Technologists following connected systems and intelligent applications - Builders, practitioners and community members looking for AIoT-focused talks - Anyone curious about the work and discussions taking place within the Leeds AIoT community No required experience level or prerequisites are stated on the event page. As the detailed abstract remains unconfirmed, prospective attendees can register now and revisit the listing when the organiser publishes the final topic and speaker information. Date: Tuesday 3 November 2026 Time: 6:00pm–9:00pm Format: Online event; access link visible to attendees Host: JohnS Register for AIoT Hub Leeds on Meetup