Little Forest is proud to be a founding sponsor of HE Connect, taking place in Manchester on the 23rd and 24th of September! This event is designed to bring together web and digital professionals working across higher education for two days of collaboration, learning, and practical problem-solving.
What is HE Connect?
HE Connect is a fresh addition to the higher education calendar, created with affordability and accessibility in mind. While many delegates will be from UK universities, the event is also attracting professionals from Europe, North America, and Asia, creating a diverse international mix of experiences and perspectives.
The aim is to provide a space where attendees can not only hear from speakers but also share challenges, exchange advice, and build connections with peers in similar roles. Some describe these gatherings as a kind of “professional therapy” – a place to compare experiences and discover that others face the same obstacles, while also learning new approaches to move forward.
Speakers and Sessions
The programme features contributions from a wide range of institutions, including:
- Stratos from the University of Edinburgh – a Little Forest customer
- Joyce Peralata from McGill University, Canada – an international speaker sharing insights from North America
- Sarah from the University of Leeds – providing reflections on thinking and connecting globally
- Representatives from Oxford, Dublin City University, and more
The sessions will cover lessons learned, ongoing challenges, and opportunities in managing digital at scale across higher education. The mix of speakers ensures an invaluably broad perspective, from leading research institutions to smaller, agile teams.
There are also plenty of workshops and activities happening, collaborating with vendors such as GECKO, Griddo, Numiko and plenty more.
Why We’re Involved
As one of the founding sponsors, Little Forest is proud to support HE Connect from its very first edition. Our work with universities around the world has shown us the importance of collaboration and knowledge-sharing in solving the challenges of digital governance, accessibility, and compliance.
By sponsoring HE Connect, we’re helping to create a space where these conversations can happen, where professionals can exchange not just successes, but also the tough lessons that often matter most.
Looking Ahead
We’re excited to see how HE Connect develops and grows in future years. For now, Manchester 2025 promises to be an engaging, practical, and supportive event for anyone working in web and digital roles across higher education.
If you’re attending, we look forward to connecting with you in person (and if not, we’ll be sharing highlights from the event afterwards)!
