Background

The BBC has been broadcasting from Newcastle for over 100 years. Now it's also the base of our North East Technology Hub and home to teams from the BBC's Product Group, responsible for developing world-beating services like iPlayer, Sounds, Sport and Bitesize.

The event is informal, and will start around 17:30 and run through to 20:00.

Agenda

From words to meanings - how LLMs are changing search (Hollie Johnson - BBC) In the age of language models, search engines are undergoing a revolution. Search technology is moving from traditional lexical methods to advanced semantic models, offering a more intuitive user experience. In this talk, we will look at the impact of this transition, and consider possible future directions of search technology.

Building High-Performing Engineering Teams (Becca Anderton - hedgehog lab) Modern engineering teams must go beyond the technical skills, emphasising effective management, communication, and a culture of collaboration. However, many struggle with unclear roles, poor leadership, and high turnover, hindering their performance. This talk will reveal strategies for building high-performing teams by addressing these challenges through strategic recruitment and fostering collaboration, while underscoring the vital roles of leadership, transparency, and accountability.

Software Engineering from a Background in Mathematics (Jake Vinegrad - BBC) Computer science and mathematics overlap in many ways, often implicitly. In this presentation we will bring some of these topics to the foreground, explore how maths can help in the world of computing, and share what it is like to transition from mathematics into a career in technology.