Today is the last chance to join Mantis at our Bristol Technology Festival debate on how technology will change the face of our relationship with public services. You can sign up here. At 9.00am on November 8th, a collection of public sector leaders and technology innovators will be at Engine Shed, discussing tech’s contribution to the public services we rely on. It’s a one of a kind event, specially put together by Mantis to give the industry a voice and encourage connection and collaboration here in Bristol, where we have an office.

Bristol City Council, Bristol Water and University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust are all represented, with their tech decision makers giving the audience insight into their innovation strategies, their service priorities and their hopes around data, interoperability and security.

Several of the region’s most exciting technology companies who supply to the public sector will join us, telling their stories of working with Government departments and healthcare providers.

Nationally recognised gold-standard experts in the development and design of the public services that we all use regularly will be joining us to give their opinions on public sector technology strategies.

We’ll also be talking to the representative bodies and accelerators that help cultivate tech excellence and grow funding opportunities for public sector technology.

We’re looking to transcend the political with this debate, and focus on what’s possible and who’s making it happen. Come and celebrate the diversity of this region’s tech achievements with us.

We’ve got a full audience, but there’s always room for more. If you’d like to come along, it’s not too late and you’re most welcome. There’s networking afterwards and the Mantis team, of course, will help you find the people you’d most like to talk to.

Don’t forget, if you’re already signed up, you can submit a question to me by email (eleanorgiles@mantispr.co.uk) for me to put to the panel.

Being part of the first Bristol Technology Festival line-up feels like a big honour for the Mantis team and we’re looking forward to promoting the vast array of public sector focused technology innovation that’s happening here in the South West and beyond.

Photo: my daughter, who in her short Bristolian life so far has benefitted from more innovation and technological advancement than she will ever know, from ambulance technology to primary schools admissions processes, electronic library cards to digital passport services.