Over 20 people attended the second Cornwall Social Media Cafe, at Vertigo Bar in Truro last night (May 12.) UKNetWeb kindly sponsored the food, which meant guests were able to sample a selection of delicious tapas.
We kept a relaxed format but also used the opportunity to let CSMC members feedback on the government’s Digital Britain interim report.
The final Digital Britain report is intended be a plan to ensure Britain’s place at the forefront of the global digital economy; however, it has received much criticism since publication for its lack of vision.
At the centre of concerns for many people running businesses in the county is the fear that plans to extend super fast broadband across the UK, including rural locations such as Cornwall, are not far reaching enough.
A series of events across the UK, entitled ‘Unconferences’ have taken place to provide discussion through the Digital Britain Unconference organisers who will then feedback to the government before the final report is published.
The lively debate was led by local copywriter and business owner, Fiona Campbell-Howes (@patroclus) of Radix Communications in Penryn.
Fiona kindly offered to write a brief report to feedback from last night’s event which she has posted on her blog.
Those present at the event included (if I’ve missed anyone please let me know):
Me (Laura McKay)
Aren Grimshaw
Toby Parkins
Toni Eyriey
Dan Parker
Jesse Cochran
Rob Edlin
Andrea Edlin
Annie Moore
Jon Baker
Fiona Campbell-Howes
Richard Collett
Rachel Picken
Mark Picken
Dan Hinchcliffe
Wo King
Darren Norbury
Bob Northey
John Hillman
Those sending apologies:
Jo Wood
David McGuire
Claire Hawke
Olly Brand
Shelley Fletcher
To those who couldn’t make it, Aren emphasised at the end of the evening that those wanting to voice an opinion on location and the structure of future events to do so on the blog.
The booking system we used via Eventbrite allowed us to get an idea from those who signed up for the May event so we’ll write that up soon and get plans underway for the June event.
Laura (@laura_mckay2009)