A TOP Microsoft marketer and a YouTuber with more than two million subscribers will be seeking to inspire young people to pursue a career in digital.

They are among the speakers at Digital Wave, the annual event that shows local school and college students the wealth of opportunities in the sector.

It takes place at the BIC on Tuesday, October 2, and is now part of the BOMO festival of events in Bournemouth.

Speakers will share their knowledge and experience and offer tips on making it in digital.

Topics will include marketing, user experience (UX), social media, YouTube, content, quality assurance, digital transformation and what it’s like to work at a digital agency.

Speakers include:

  • Bournemouth University graduate Jamie Spafford, co-founder of SORTEDFood, a YouTube cookery channel with more than two million subscribers. He will explain how he uses social platforms to engage with his audience and commercial partnerships to amplify the brand.
  • Steven Woodgate, marketing lead at Microsoft, voted one of the “social media stars of the future”. He will tell why he believes technology can offer careers in communication for everyone, especially those with dyslexia and dyspraxia.
  • Alex Price from 93Digital, named a rising star by numerous industry experts, who will talk about what it is like to run a digital agency at the age of 25 – from dropping out of university to hiring his first staff.
  • Ashley Smith, a test analyst at Mitrefinch Ltd. A co-founder of Women in Tech, York, she shares her enthusiasm for technology with students there and will discus the different roles and skills required in a development team.

Young people will also be able to speak to a range of exhibitors, from educational institutions to businesses and digital agencies.

Andrew Henning, founder of Digital Wave and of Redweb – the agency that hosts the event – said: “This year marks our fourth Digital Wave.

“We’ve inspired thousands of young people over the years, showing them the opportunities available to them in the digital industry, and we have a great line-up of speakers ready to inspire the next generation once again on October 2.”

The event is sponsored by Redweb, Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership, the Careers and Enterprise Company and Bournemouth council, along with partners BFX, Brighter Productions, the BIC and BOMO.

Tickets are available at Eventbrite.co.uk and are limited to teachers, tutors and students aged 14-19 on a first-come, first-served basis.