Switchplane founded Chalk Eastbourne in 2020 as a business-led community for Eastbourne's digital and technology sector. Its aims were to improve the town's perception, support young talent, and make it easier for digital businesses to recruit locally.
We’d known for a long time that there’s something special about the town we’re based in. Not only is it located on the beautiful south coast and nestled at the foot of the South Downs, but it’s also a hub for the digital sector.
Watch some of the inspiring voices from our town:
From community to conference
Chalk Eastbourne brought together the town's digital and technology sector and helped raise the profile of what was already happening here. Through that community, local organisations worked together to raise the profile of the sector, support talent, and create better opportunities locally. That work laid the groundwork for something bigger.
Eastbourne DigiFest today
Eastbourne DigiFest builds on those foundations. Its core focus is simple: to inspire Eastbourne's growth in the world of digital and tech. Now in its fourth year, it is the region's annual conference for digital and technology, bringing together businesses, professionals, and career builders to understand how digital and technology are shaping the way we work. It exists to make practical knowledge, real examples, and the right conversations more accessible. Eastbourne DigiFest brings people together through an annual conference and a growing programme of events across the year.
Today, that same business community continues to shape Eastbourne DigiFest, ensuring it remains accessible, practical, and grounded in real-world needs. It is built around three core values: always welcoming, proudly local, and worth your time.