Southend Tech is a thriving community of IT professionals, businesses and tech enthusiasts. From meetups and hackathons to coding workshops and industry networking events, we bring people together across Southend, Basildon, Chelmsford and online to share ideas, collaborate and innovate.
We are currently meeting regularly in Southend, Chelmsford, Basildon and online for monthly Tech Meetups in 2026. Regular events, ad hoc events, our social media pages and previous events and activities are listed below.
Regular Tech Meetings
Southend Tech Meetup (over 18s)
Every 3rd Thursday of the month, 7pm – 10pm
The Board Game Hut, just off Southend High Street (£6 on entry to the shop)
Work on tech projects, software, hardware, AI, Raspberry Pi, electronics, robotics, virtual reality and more.
Collaborate, share knowledge and help one another.
More details here.
Chelmsford Tech Meetup (over 18s)
Every 1st Thursday of the month, 7pm – 10pm
Patch Chelmsford, Grays Yard.
Talks, networking and more.
Collaborate, share knowledge, work on projects and help one another.
More details here.
Basildon Tech Meetup (over 18s)
Every 3rd Sunday of the month, 5.30pm – 7.30pm
Orletto Lounge (normally upstairs), 2 East Square, SS14 1HS
Social meetup for people working or interested in technology.
More details here.
Southend Coding Meetup - online (over 18s)
Mondays, 7.30pm-9pm
To join Zoom click here.
More details here.
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Additional events
(including events run by other organisations)Chelmsford Tech Meetup (over 18s)
Thursday 4th December, 7pm – 10pm
Talk: Vehicle hacking with CAN Bus and Raspberry Pi Pico
Patch Chelmsford, Grays Yard.
Talks, collaborate, share knowledge and help one another.
More details here.
Southend Tech Meetup (over 18s)
Thursday 18th December, 7pm – 10pm
The Board Game Hut, just off Southend High Street (£6 on entry to the shop)
More details here.
Santa's Space Day - Various activities
Sunday 21st December, 11am – 4.30pm
Southend Central Museum & Planetarium, Victoria Avenue, SS2 6EW
More details here.
Basildon Tech Social Meetup (over 18s)
Sunday 21st December, 5.30pm – 7.30pm
Orletto Lounge (normally upstairs), 2 East Square, SS14 1HS
More details here.
Royal Institution Christmas Lectures 2025
29th/30th/31st December 9pm
BBC4 and iPlayer
Dame Maggie Aderin-Pocock takes us on an epic voyage through time and space.
More details here.
Southend Tech Meetup (over 18s)
Thursday 15th January 2026, 7pm – 10pm
The Board Game Hut, just off Southend High Street (£6 on entry to the shop)
More details here.
Basildon Tech Social Meetup (over 18s)
Sunday 18th January 2026, 5.30pm – 7.30pm
Orletto Lounge (normally upstairs), 2 East Square, SS14 1HS
More details here.
Online: Recruitment for 18-30s mentoring and children's STEM activities
Monday 26th January 2026, 8pm – 9pm
Online
More details here.
Chelmsford Tech Meetup (over 18s)
Thursday 5th February 2026, 7pm – 10pm
Talk: 3D printed RFID game as seen at EMF Camp
Patch Chelmsford, Grays Yard.
Talks, collaborate, share knowledge and help one another.
More details here.
Basildon Tech Social Meetup (over 18s)
Sunday 15th February 2026, 5.30pm – 7.30pm
Orletto Lounge (normally upstairs), 2 East Square, SS14 1HS
More details here.
Southend Tech Meetup (over 18s)
Thursday 19th February 2026, 7pm – 10pm
The Board Game Hut, just off Southend High Street (£6 on entry to the shop)
More details here.
Essex Libraries
Various sessions across Essex
Code Club, Lego Coding
IT / computing / NHS app help
More details here.
Chelmsford Tech Meetup (over 18s)
Thursday 5th March 2026, 7pm – 10pm
Talk: TBC - can you help ?
Patch Chelmsford, Grays Yard.
Talks, collaborate, share knowledge and help one another.
More details here.
Basildon Tech Social Meetup (over 18s)
Sunday 15th March 2026, 5.30pm – 7.30pm
Orletto Lounge (normally upstairs), 2 East Square, SS14 1HS
More details here.
Southend Tech Meetup (over 18s)
Thursday 19th March 2026, 7pm – 10pm
The Board Game Hut, just off Southend High Street (£6 on entry to the shop)
More details here.
Tech Fest
Thursday 18th June 2026, 9am – 3pm
Hands-on practical training for Science Technicians
More details here.
Chelmsford Science Festival - Family Science Days
Saturday / Sunday October 2026, 9am – 4pm
Anglia Ruskin University, Chelmsford Campus, CM1 1SQ
As part of Chelmsford Science Festival, ARU are hosting two family science days
More details and booking tba here.
Social Media links
Email: southendraspberryjam@gmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/southendtech
https://instagram.com/SouthendTech
https://www.linkedin.com/company/southend-tech/
Eventbrite bookings (follow to be notified when events added)
https://www.meetup.com/southendtechmeet/
Essex Steamettes' 90+ Youtube videos
Previous Meetups
Basildon Tech Meetup Talks and Networking (over 18s)
Thursday 27th February, 6.30pm – 9.30pm
Unit 10, Westgate Shopping Centre, Basildon Town Centre
6.30pm Doors open
7.00pm Talks:
* E-Commerce, social media, influencers
* Essex Steamettes, girls in tech
* Retro animation / Retro computing
* Raspberry Pi
* AI voice detection - Hackathon project from Basildon Creative Tech Fest 2024
8.30pm Networking
9.30pm suggested departure
More details: and booking here.
In 2024, we ran a Hackathon for Social Impact as part of Basildon Creative Tech Festival.
The hackathon follows our Essex County Council Challenge Dementia Hackathon and Southend Smart City Raspberry Jam following our coding ofSouthend Council's Pepper Robot.
If you are interested in learning more about tech, collaborating on projects, learning about careers and technologies, we would love to meet you at our online Southend Coding Meetups and in person Southend Tech Meetups.
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