Hello,
Eighteen years ago, I wrote a blog post about a small idea:
“Who else around me is interested in the things I am… and what might happen if I got to know them?”
That post led to the first Worthing Tweetup, which became WorthingThing, then WorthingDigital and eventually led to me starting SussexDigital.
I never expected to still be exploring the same question 18 years later. I’m glad I am, though, and I’m grateful to everyone who has joined me in looking for the answer over the years. We’re still figuring it out together.
In the news this week, the University of Brighton has been highlighting Sussex’s role in jobs, innovation and economic growth. Between 2020 and 2025, the university spent almost £40 million with Sussex-based organisations, supporting local jobs, services and economic activity.
Event picks
Work From Here Wednesday
When and where: 29 July 2026, 8:30am to 5:00pm | Crawley | Crawley Innovation Centre
Crawley Innovation Centre’s monthly Work From Here Wednesday is a free day of shared-office working, with Wi-Fi, meeting rooms available to hire and a lunchtime business advice session. It’s one of the few regular digital-adjacent meetups outside Brighton, which makes it stand out in the county’s calendar.
Clickstream data and team leadership
When and where: 29 July 2026, 5:45pm to 8:15pm | Brighton & Hove | Brighton Data Forum
Brighton Data Forum brings together clickstream analytics and data leadership at PLATF9RM. The line-up pairs Semrush’s Mike Calleja with MPB’s Nikki Miles. One practical note: reception closes at 6pm, so arrive promptly.
AI Evening – July Brighton Web Development Meetup
When and where: 29 July 2026, 6:30pm to 8:30pm | Brighton & Hove | Brighton Web Development Meetup
Brighton Web Development Meetup is leaning into AI for a July evening at The Skiff. Adam Khan and James Turner are speaking about business-process notation, production SaaS and the limits of AI in software work, so this one looks more practical than hype-driven.
The Farm Digital Freelancers Meetup
When and where: 29 July 2026, 8:00pm to 11:00pm | Brighton & Hove | The Battle of Trafalgar
The Farm’s Wednesday night meetup is still doing what it has always done: providing a relaxed, low-pressure gathering for freelance digital workers. The organisers are explicit that conversation matters more than business cards—which is probably why it has lasted.
WorthingDigital Social – July
When and where: 30 July 2026, 7:00pm to 10:00pm | Worthing | The Old Bike Store
WorthingDigital Social returns to The Old Bike Store with its usual no-agenda format: no talks, no sales pitch, just a straightforward evening for people around Worthing with an interest in digital, tech, design, data or product. Worthing’s regular digital socials remain a useful counterweight to Brighton’s busier scene.
That’s it for this week.
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Here’s to the next 18 years of figuring it out together.
Mark