About Innovate Suffolk Talent Network

The Innovate Suffolk Talent Network (ISTN) is a growing community of professionals, educators, students and advocates working together to bridge the gap between talent and opportunity across Suffolk.

Supported by Innovate Suffolk, the Talent Network focuses specifically on people — how we connect them, support them, and help them grow in confidence, skills, and visibility. While Innovate Suffolk leads on wider innovation and systems-focused work, the ISTN is where the moving parts live: the meet-ups, the working groups, the mentoring relationships, the local champions.

It’s designed to be a place where people can see themselves — and one another — as part of something shared, practical, and hopeful.

What Does ISTN Do?

ISTN supports a network of grassroots communities across digital, creative, tech and future-facing sectors. These include developers, designers, marketers, educators, and operational professionals — all coming together around a shared goal of talent development in Suffolk.

The Talent Network offers

  • Regular, themed meetups across different disciplines

  • Working groups with educator involvement to ensure alignment with colleges and schools

  • Mentorship and progression support, especially for early-career professionals and returners

  • A platform for experts to share knowledge and contribute to community growth

  • A collaborative space to help educators and industry speak the same language

We’re building practical, visible bridges between education and employment — supporting both learners and employers to understand what’s possible, and where talent needs more support to thrive.

A Platform for Shared Purpose

In many ways, ISTN is the living, breathing part of Innovate Suffolk — a space where challenges are shared, ideas are tested, and new energy is welcomed. While Innovate Suffolk is building the stage, ISTN is helping people step onto it.

Through meetups, community building and open dialogue, ISTN works to bring the richness of local talent to the surface — and create an ecosystem where no one is left isolated or overlooked.

If you’re an educator looking for industry connection, a professional wanting to give back, or someone simply looking for your place in Suffolk’s innovation story — you’re welcome here.

Want to Get Involved?

You can explore more about ISTN and our events here, or reach out to find out how you might contribute, support or take part.

Let’s build a network that works for everyone — together.