building, supporting and enabling the digital technology ecosystem
october
09sep10:00 am09oct11:30 amFoundation Apprentice Employer Consultation Workshop #3
SDS is undertaking a programme of stakeholder engagement on behalf of the Scottish Government to progress work on the next phase of Foundation Apprenticeships. The first phase
SDS is undertaking a programme of stakeholder engagement on behalf of the Scottish Government to progress work on the next phase of Foundation Apprenticeships. The first phase of this engagement is focused on employers and industry given the underpinning role they have with shaping and delivering FAs.
We are hosting a series of FA Consultation Workshops for employers. Details on the workshops are below and please sign up to one of them to ensure your employer voice is captured.
September 9 (Wednesday) 10:00 am - October 9 (Friday) 11:30 am BST
Online
05oct1:00 pm5:30 pmSCOTTISH ETHNIC MINORITY TALENT SUMMIT & FESTIVAL 2026: Aberdeen
Scotland's disruption is underway. The question is: who's steering it? SEMTSF 2026
Scotland’s disruption is underway. The question is: who’s steering it?
SEMTSF 2026 doesn’t discuss inclusion, it demonstrates it. Five days. Four locations. Hundreds of Scotland’s brightest ethnic minority leaders, innovators, and changemakers shaping what comes next.
Find out more via the ‘Learn More’ link below.
(Monday) 1:00 pm - 5:30 pm BST
07octAll DayFintech Summit 2026
The Fintech Summit is Scotland’s largest annual gathering of financial technology leaders, and has established itself as the must-attend event for stakeholders in the sector.
The Fintech Summit is Scotland’s largest annual gathering of financial technology leaders, and has established itself as the must-attend event for stakeholders in the sector.
The conference will explore technological innovation across the industry, from developments in leading FS institutions, to the disruptive innovators within the challenger and start-up community that are reshaping the Financial Services market. The programme will consider the key shifts in regulation, investment, and technology, and discuss how they will impact the future evolution of the sector.
The Summit is the official flagship event of the Scotland Fintech Festival, and is free to attend for delegates working for Financial Services and FinTech companies.
All Day (Wednesday) BST
Edinburgh International Conference Centre
The Exchange, 150 Morrison St, Edinburgh, EH3 8EE
The Ministry of Defence’s National Armaments International team invites expressions of interest from SMEs in the defence, dual-use and aerospace sectors to attend an SME Surgery in Glasgow. What to
The Ministry of Defence’s National Armaments International team invites expressions of interest from SMEs in the defence, dual-use and aerospace sectors to attend an SME Surgery in Glasgow.
What to expect
Places are limited. Click the ‘Learn More’ link below to register your interest in attending.
(Wednesday) 10:30 am - 3:00 pm BST
Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (DBIST) Scotland
19octAll DayCyberFest Community Conference
The biggest cyber security festival in the North is back! Now in its 9th year, CyberFest is a month-long celebration showcasing the North East's cyber and AI excellence. Taking place across
The biggest cyber security festival in the North is back!
Now in its 9th year, CyberFest is a month-long celebration showcasing the North East’s cyber and AI excellence. Taking place across the North East, its mission is to connect, educate, and empower the region’s digital ecosystem through high-impact events and community collaboration. Throughout October, the festival will bring together the leading experts across Space, Defence, Energy, AI, and Manufacturing to showcase the power of cross-sector collaboration.
Key statistics
● Meet new people: 1,000+ CyberFest attendees last year
● Gain business opportunities: 600+ businesses in CyberNorth’s networks
● Put your business in front of a large social media network: 5,200+ followers on CyberNorth’s LinkedIn
What is the Community Conference
This year the Community Conference is focused on putting the spotlight on cyber security in frontier technology. We’ll be hearing from local, national, international, and government speakers from a number of different perspectives across the sector’s most pressing topics.
We’re also bringing cyber, space and defence clusters, businesses, and professionals from around the nation together to connect, network and engage with the North East cyber security and AI industry, and to showcase what we have to offer in the region.
In the afternoon, attendees will also be invited to participate in collaborative workshops across a variety of disciplines. Conference attendees gain free access to afternoon sessions.
The tracks include Space, Defence, AI, Advanced Manufacturing and Energy.
Ready to unlock new opportunities across key sectors in the North East? Put Monday 19th October in the diary.
All Day (Monday) BST
26oct8:30 am4:30 pmSCOTTISH ETHNIC MINORITY TALENT SUMMIT & FESTIVAL 2026: Glasgow
Scotland's disruption is underway. The question is: who's steering it? SEMTSF 2026
Scotland’s disruption is underway. The question is: who’s steering it?
SEMTSF 2026 doesn’t discuss inclusion, it demonstrates it. Five days. Four locations. Hundreds of Scotland’s brightest ethnic minority leaders, innovators, and changemakers shaping what comes next.
Find out more via the ‘Learn More’ link below.
(Monday) 8:30 am - 4:30 pm GMT
27oct8:30 am4:30 pmSCOTTISH ETHNIC MINORITY TALENT SUMMIT & FESTIVAL 2026: Fife
Scotland's disruption is underway. The question is: who's steering it? SEMTSF 2026
Scotland’s disruption is underway. The question is: who’s steering it?
SEMTSF 2026 doesn’t discuss inclusion, it demonstrates it. Five days. Four locations. Hundreds of Scotland’s brightest ethnic minority leaders, innovators, and changemakers shaping what comes next.
Find out more via the ‘Learn More’ link below.
(Tuesday) 8:30 am - 4:30 pm GMT
29oct8:30 am4:30 pmSCOTTISH ETHNIC MINORITY TALENT SUMMIT & FESTIVAL 2026: Edinburgh
Scotland's disruption is underway. The question is: who's steering it? SEMTSF 2026
Scotland’s disruption is underway. The question is: who’s steering it?
SEMTSF 2026 doesn’t discuss inclusion, it demonstrates it. Five days. Four locations. Hundreds of Scotland’s brightest ethnic minority leaders, innovators, and changemakers shaping what comes next.
Find out more via the ‘Learn More’ link below.
(Thursday) 8:30 am - 4:30 pm GMT
november
03nov9:30 am4:30 pmTayside TechFest 2026
Tayside TechFest 2026 unites innovators, start-ups and tech leaders for talks, workshops, networking and digital inspiration. Tayside TechFest is the region’s flagship celebration of innovation,
Tayside TechFest 2026 unites innovators, start-ups and tech leaders for talks, workshops, networking and digital inspiration.
Tayside TechFest is the region’s flagship celebration of innovation, collaboration, and digital excellence. Bringing together startups, scale-ups, industry leaders, students, and tech enthusiasts, TechFest showcases the vibrant digital ecosystem across Dundee, Angus, Perth & Kinross.
Expect a packed programme of:
Whether you’re building the next big thing, exploring career paths in tech, or just curious about the future of digital, Tayside TechFest is your gateway to connect, learn, and grow.
Join us as we spotlight the talent, energy, and ambition driving Tayside’s digital future.
(Tuesday) 9:30 am - 4:30 pm GMT
03nov9:30 am4:30 pmTayside TechFest 2026
Tayside TechFest 2026 unites innovators, start-ups and tech leaders for talks, workshops, networking and digital inspiration. Tayside TechFest is the region’s flagship celebration of innovation,
Tayside TechFest 2026 unites innovators, start-ups and tech leaders for talks, workshops, networking and digital inspiration.
Tayside TechFest is the region’s flagship celebration of innovation, collaboration, and digital excellence. Bringing together startups, scale-ups, industry leaders, students, and tech enthusiasts, TechFest showcases the vibrant digital ecosystem across Dundee, Angus, Perth & Kinross.
Expect a packed programme of:
Whether you’re building the next big thing, exploring career paths in tech, or just curious about the future of digital, Tayside TechFest is your gateway to connect, learn, and grow.
Join us as we spotlight the talent, energy, and ambition driving Tayside’s digital future.
(Tuesday) 9:30 am - 4:30 pm GMT
09novAll Day13UK Gov - International Trade Week 2026
Unlock new markets, build your network and gain the skills to accelerate your business growth. International Trade Week (ITW) 2026
Unlock new markets, build your network and gain the skills to accelerate your business growth.
International Trade Week (ITW) 2026 (09-13 November) brings together everything a business needs to take the next step in their export journey. Led by the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST) and sponsored by Santander UK, the week is packed with expert-led events, practical support and valuable networking opportunities designed to help UK businesses succeed globally.
Explore the programme with a mix of online and in-person events throughout the week and find the right opportunities for your business.
november 9 (Monday) - 13 (Friday) GMT
Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (DBIST) Scotland
10nov2:00 pm5:00 pmMeet the Investors: Edinburgh
Meet the Investors is a series of events helping UK tech SMEs navigate scale-up finance. Each event connects SMEs with investors and experts to share insights, funding tips, and
Meet the Investors is a series of events helping UK tech SMEs navigate scale-up finance. Each event connects SMEs with investors and experts to share insights, funding tips, and networking opportunities.
Small businesses are crucial to the UK economy, yet many faces significant challenges in accessing the finance they need to grow. techUK’s Meet the Investors event aims to tackle this issue head on.
Taking place in central Edinburgh, you will have the opportunity to hear from leading funders who work across the UK, providing you with the opportunity to engage directly and ask them questions. The event will include keynote addresses and a panel discussion, with plenty of time for networking.
This event is ideal for small business actively seeking investment. Whether you’re new to fundraising or preparing for your next round, come along to hear directly from investors about the finance ecosystem in Edinburgh and how to position your business for success.
(Tuesday) 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm GMT
18nov12:30 pm5:00 pmDOING BUSINESS IN THE USA: PRACTICAL INSIGHTS FOR SCOTTISH BUSINESSES
Get direct answers from an expert panel and hear first-hand from Scottish companies already succeeding across the Atlantic. You will gain practical insights into regional opportunities, legal and
Get direct answers from an expert panel and hear first-hand from Scottish companies already succeeding across the Atlantic. You will gain practical insights into regional opportunities, legal and financial considerations, and the support available to help you enter, grow and develop your business in the USA.
The USA is Scotland’s leading international trading partner, receiving around 17.1% of Scottish exports worth £5.5 billion. For ambitious businesses, it represents a substantial and diverse market with significant potential for growth.
This Scottish North American Business Council event offers a focused, practical introduction to identifying opportunities and navigating those differences.
By the end of the masterclass, you will have a clearer understanding of the support available and the practical steps your business can take towards trading with or establishing a presence in the USA.
This event is designed for businesspeople who are actively considering exporting to or establishing a presence in the USA. To give as many companies as possible the opportunity to attend, places are limited to two delegates per business
(Wednesday) 12:30 pm - 5:00 pm GMT
Edinburgh City Chambers
253 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1YJ
Scottish North American Business Council
25nov1:00 pm5:00 pmScottish Testing Group - Autumn Meet-up 2026
Join us for the Scottish Testing Group - Autumn Meet-up 2026 at CodeBase on November 25, 2026 at 1:00 PM (GMT). This in-person event is a fantastic opportunity to hear from
Join us for the Scottish Testing Group – Autumn Meet-up 2026 at CodeBase on November 25, 2026 at 1:00 PM (GMT).
This in-person event is a fantastic opportunity to hear from top industry experts and connect with fellow professionals from the world of testing and quality engineering.
Mark your calendar and get ready for an engaging experience of networking and knowledge sharing in the heart of Scotland’s tech community!
(Wednesday) 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm GMT
CodeBase - Edinburgh
37a Castle Terrace, Edinburgh, EH1 2EL
