The Big Tech Debate #5 | AI in Testing vs Software Quality

⌖ Manchester · Clockwise Linley House, Manchester - Coworking & Office Space

Hosted by Ava

Founders Coffee Club brings founders together in Manchester on Thursday 29 October 2026 for relaxed networking, coffee, nibbles and coworking,without pitches. A founder-only alternative to formal networking Forget speeches, presentations and sales pitches. This informal morning meetup is designed around straightforward, useful conversations with other founders in Manchester. Turn up, grab a coffee and meet people who understand the realities of starting and growing a business. Running from 10:00am to 12:00pm GMT, the event takes place at Clockwise Linley House, a coworking and office space at Linley House, Dickinson Street, Manchester M1 4LF. Your £17.50 ticket also includes a coworking day pass, giving you the opportunity to stay productive around the meetup rather than travelling elsewhere to work. What to expect The format is deliberately simple and low-pressure: - Open networking with fellow business founders - Coffee and nibbles in a relaxed coworking setting - No speeches, presentations or organised pitching - No selling or promotional agenda - A coworking day pass included with admission This is a founders-only event rather than a general business networking session. It is suitable for founders who want to build genuine peer relationships, swap experiences and expand their local network without having to prepare an elevator pitch or sit through a formal programme. If attending a networking event alone feels daunting, the hosts have made the welcome part of the experience: newcomers will be greeted and introduced to someone immediately, helping conversation get started naturally. That makes the meetup approachable whether you already know Manchester’s founder community or are attending Founders Coffee Club for the first time. About Founders Coffee Club Founders Coffee Club runs networking events for founders across the UK, with its Manchester gatherings hosted on the last Thursday of each month. You can also follow the community on Instagram or LinkedIn. This edition is hosted by Ava. Tickets cost £17.50, and registration is subject to host approval. Request a place and get your ticket.

⌖ Manchester · University of Manchester

Hosted by UniCS

GreatUniHack 2026 is a free, 30+ hour student hackathon at the University of Manchester on 7–8 November, open to university students of every level. Hosted by UniCS, the University of Manchester’s largest computer science society, this flagship hackathon brings hundreds of student builders, mentors and engineers together for an intensive weekend of creating and shipping software. You’ll start with an idea, develop a project from scratch with a team and ultimately present your work to a panel of judges. What to expect GreatUniHack follows a practical build, ship and present format. Across Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 November, participants will have more than 30 hours to turn raw concepts into working projects. Support will be available throughout the weekend, making this as much an opportunity to learn as it is a competition. The experience includes: - More than 30 hours of focused project building - Workshops designed to help participants learn new skills - Guidance from mentors and engineers - Opportunities to meet collaborators and form a team - Food provided during the weekend - Project presentations before a judging panel - Prizes supported by the event’s sponsors The complete timetable and sponsor lineup will be announced closer to the event. Official partners currently include Hackathons UK, Major League Hacking and Pure Buttons. Who can take part? The hackathon is open to current undergraduate and postgraduate students from any university who are aged 18 or over. All ability levels are welcome, so you do not need to be an experienced developer or a University of Manchester student to apply. It is well suited to first-time hackers who want a supported introduction, as well as experienced builders looking to challenge themselves and deliver an ambitious project against the clock. Applications are submitted individually. You can arrive with potential teammates in mind, but every participant must apply separately. If you do not yet have a team, you can meet other hackers through the event community before the weekend or connect with people when hacking begins. A long-running Manchester hackathon… Register for this event

Sponsors: Hackathons UK · Major League Hacking +1

⌖ Manchester · The Lowry, Salford Quays

Hosted by Xpertise Recruitment

Manchester Technology Leaders Conference brings technology, data and transformation leaders together at The Lowry on 12 November 2026 to tackle AI accountability. Show Me the Money: The AI Accountability Reckoning Taking place from 12pm on Thursday 12 November 2026 at The Lowry, Salford Quays, this leadership conference explores how organisations can use AI, data and technology to strengthen innovation, accelerate business growth and build resilience in a fast-changing digital landscape. The 2026 theme, “Show Me the Money: The AI Accountability Reckoning,” puts the focus on moving beyond AI ambition to measurable impact and responsible leadership. Attendees will hear how senior technology figures are approaching transformation, with an emphasis on real-world applications, proven practices and strategies that can be put to work after the event. What to expect The programme combines expert-led content with opportunities for discussion and peer learning. It will feature: - Two keynote speakers, including announced keynote Kirsty Mason - A panel of business and technology leaders - Interactive Q&A sessions with CIOs, CTOs and AI leaders - Transformation success stories and practical, hands-on strategies - Actionable examples of applying AI, data and technology in business - Exclusive insight into the UK technology market from both hiring and job-seeking perspectives - Dedicated networking with fellow leaders from across the technology community Food and refreshments will be available throughout the day, supporting a conference format designed to make it easy to continue conversations between sessions. Who should attend? This event is designed for the Technology, Data and Transformation leadership community, particularly business and technology decision-makers responsible for AI adoption, digital strategy, innovation, organisational resilience or growth. It will be especially relevant to CIOs, CTOs, data leaders, AI leaders, transformation executives and senior professionals who want to compare approaches with peers and learn from practical experience.… Register for this event

⌖ Manchester · WPP office

Hosted by IAB UK

AI in the North is a practical IAB UK conference on AI in advertising, taking place at WPP’s Manchester office on 12 November 2026. Designed for professionals across the North’s advertising and media industry, this focused afternoon will help attendees understand how AI is changing the sector now, not simply speculate about what may happen next. Expect research-led insight, practical industry examples and clear discussion of the regulatory and operational questions businesses need to address as AI moves from automation towards greater autonomy. The event runs from 15:00 to 16:45, followed by networking drinks, at the WPP office, 1 New Quay Street, Manchester, M3 4BN. Get directions. What the afternoon covers After delegate arrival, Eliza Lyons, Member Services Manager at IAB UK, will open the programme and explain how attendees can make the most of their membership. The main sessions then explore: - The State of AI in Advertising, Si Hunt, Insight & Planning Manager at IAB UK, will examine the shift from automation to autonomy and share key findings from IAB UK’s State of AI in Advertising report. - Agentic AI in advertising, Joe Jackson, Ad Tech Executive at IAB UK, will discuss the emergence of more autonomous AI systems within the advertising landscape. - AI regulation, Beth Rogers, Public Policy Manager at IAB UK, will outline what is known so far and help attendees understand the developing policy environment. - AI in Action, a closing session focused on what organisations are actually doing with AI, using examples rather than predictions. Additional speakers for this segment are still to be confirmed. Who should attend? This event is aimed at IAB UK members working across advertising, agencies, brands, media and ad tech who want a grounded view of AI’s current business impact. It will be particularly relevant to people responsible for strategy, innovation, policy, technology, insight or campaign delivery. No specific technical experience level is stated; the emphasis is on industry knowledge, practical learning and informed discussion rather than hands-on coding. Attendance details Attendance is restricted to IAB UK members. Check eligibility with IAB UK before booking. View the event and registration details

⌖ Manchester · Greater Manchester Digital Security Hub (DiSH)

Hosted by Datacove

Manchester’s Data Intelligence Network returns on 12 November 2026 for an evening of practical insight, peer learning and networking for data and development professionals. Hosted by Datacove, this community meetup brings people together to exchange experiences, explore better ways of working and build meaningful relationships around data intelligence. It takes place from 6:00pm to 8:30pm GMT at the Greater Manchester Digital Security Hub (DiSH), Heron House, 1 Lincoln Square, Manchester. Data meets development The featured talk, “Data Meets Dev: How cross-functional collaboration has changed my work forever,” will be delivered by Fiona Pye, Senior Data Analyst at AutoTrader UK. Fiona will reflect on two years spent working as a data scientist and analyst embedded within a backend development team. She will share how the experience changed her approach to analytics through new ways of thinking about: - Cross-functional collaboration and communication - Software and analytical design - Coding practices and working methods - The relationship between backend systems and business data - Building mutual understanding between data and development teams The learning has worked both ways: while Fiona gained new perspectives from developers, her colleagues developed a richer understanding of the data they handle and produce, including its implications for the wider business. The session offers a grounded case study for anyone interested in breaking down organisational silos and improving how technical teams work together. Who should attend? The meetup welcomes everyone from people beginning a career in data to experienced analysts, data scientists, developers and statistical computing practitioners. It will be particularly relevant to those working with data analytics, visualisation, predictive analytics, programming, R, Python or Shiny, as well as team leaders seeking stronger collaboration across technical disciplines. Datacove runs four Manchester events each year, combining talks, hands-on sessions, open knowledge sharing and informal networking in a friendly, inclusive setting. The wider community is anchored by the annual EARL Data Intelligence Conference in Brighton. View the event and registration details

Sponsors: Datacove · DiSH, Eagle Labs

⌖ Manchester · Copthorne Hotel Manchester

Hosted by Manchester Data Hive (volunteer-led team)

Manchester Data Hive is a free Data & AI Community Day taking place in Manchester on Saturday 14 November 2026. Running from 9am to 5pm at the Copthorne Hotel Manchester, this volunteer-led event brings together data engineers, BI analysts, data scientists, AI practitioners and technology leaders to learn from practical experience, exchange ideas and strengthen the regional data community. Explore Microsoft’s data and AI ecosystem The programme will focus on technologies across Microsoft’s Data & AI ecosystem, including Microsoft Fabric, Azure SQL, Power BI and Microsoft AI/Copilot. Attendees can expect real-world sessions delivered by engineers, analysts, scientists and AI practitioners from across the region. Rather than concentrating only on theory, the day is designed to provide useful ideas that can transfer into everyday work. Topics and takeaways will range from tooling tips to architectural patterns, helping attendees discover approaches they can begin applying on Monday morning. What to expect The event combines several opportunities to learn and connect: - Practical talks grounded in real projects and professional experience - Two parallel tracks running across two rooms, each seating 50 people - Networking with fellow data professionals and community leaders - Actionable takeaways for data, analytics, business intelligence and AI work - A welcoming community environment, with first-time attendees especially encouraged to participate The programme is suitable for a broad range of experience levels. Seasoned data engineers can compare approaches and explore architectural ideas, BI analysts can develop their skills, and people who are simply curious about how AI may affect their careers can build their understanding in an approachable setting. Venue and community Manchester Data Hive takes place at Copthorne Hotel Manchester, Clippers Quay, Salford Quays, Manchester, M50 3SN. The venue offers on-site accommodation, catering and access via the Metrolink to MediaCityUK. View the event and registration details

Sponsors: WomenTech Network · Manchester Tech Week