IT’S the event that has become a key date in the diary for Dorset’s digital and creative sector.

The 34th Meetdraw saw everyone from students to business coming together to network and have fun.

Meetdraw can trace its history to 2009, when a few staff at digital agency Redweb organised drinks after work.

Last week’s gathering at Aruba, on Bournemouth’s Pier Approach, welcomed around 350 people for a tropically-themed event with inflatable palm trees, surf simulator and an indoor beach for sandcastles.

The event comes together thanks to 14 “butchers”, the volunteers who put everything together. The latest was sponsored by co-working and co-living space provider KIN.

Butcher Andy Milsom, founder of Bournemouth marketing agency Three Straight Lines, said of the Aruba event: “We feel it was a success. It was right up there with the best we’ve done.”

The event brings together businesses from website designers to marketing and PR companies, film and visual effects businesses. Junior staff, freelancers and even students looking to get into the industry have a chance to speak to anyone.

Butcher Mati Kettell, founding member at marketing agency Bare Collective in Bournemouth, attended his first Meetdraw when still at Bournemouth University.

“I’d heard about Meetdraw and came along to one feeling really shy and nervous,” he said.

That particular Meetdraw was structured as a speed-dating event. “The two people I spoke two completely changed my mind about networking,” he said.

“I ended up getting a placement and a full time job with one of those people. I don’t think I’d have stayed here if it wasn’t for Meetdraw.”

He says organisers aim to put people at ease. “We as the butchers take it upon ourselves to find people that are not speaking to everybody and say ‘What do you do?’ and introduce them to someone else,” he said.

“It’s great seeing someone come in, really nervous and not able to speak to anyone or be out of their comfort zone, and see them come out a few hours later saying ‘Thank you, I’ve had the best time’.”

Mr Milsom says it can be “quite a daunting thing to turn up at” but that the butchers are keen to make introductions.

“I don’t think anybody feels out of their depth. It wouldn’t still be going on if it wasn’t for people coming and enjoying it,” he added.

“I think as Bournemouth’s popularity has grown, it’s grown itself. I can only see it getting bigger. There are a lot more agencies opening and more students coming out of the university, we have people coming down from London to live in Bournemouth, so it can only grow.”