INGENUITY – in memory of Richard Begg
Waterstons, a consulting and technology business launched in the North East almost 30 year, want you to embrace the use of ethical generative AI.
The INGENUITY hack day, in memory of Richard Begg, is about inspiring the next generation of technologists to innovate, try new things and learn from mistakes – just what Rich was all about.
We want you to creatively use generative AI to meet one of the challenges or even bring your own spin to how generative AI can make lives easier.
It could be
- Transforming the student experience by implementing an intelligent chatbot to facilitate university communications and course materials.
- Utilising AI to expedite the creation of standard employee letters and documents across the organisation, emphasising inclusivity.
- Enhancing project management through AI-driven analysis of project briefs and cost estimation.
- Elevating university marketing efforts by using AI to create compelling promotional materials.
The challenge is about using your skills and knowledge in a real-world way and using your imagination and creativity, but that’s not all…
The prize...
The winning team will receive £1000 to share and spend as they see fit, as well as a fast track through to our placement assessment day for the chance of being selected for a summer internship or full placement year. The internship or placement will mean you have the opportunity to learn and work with experts, put your skills to the test in actual client environments, and perhaps find a passion for a new area of tech.
Richard, the reason behind the challenge
After studying at Teesside University, gaining his bachelor’s in computer science, then finding his area of interest, Richard joined Waterstons in January 2013 as an Executive Software Consultant with a specialism in integration and software architecture, and was promoted to Head of Bespoke Software in 2021.
He worked on a lot of projects and was highly regarded by all his clients – his expertise was second to none, his creativity knew no bounds and his personality shone through in every interaction he had.
Richard was a huge character who had a passion for nurturing people, inspiring them, and giving them the confidence to grow and develop.
He was a big advocate for innovation – the ideas he came up with and what he devoted time and energy to are legendary. He built, with the help of others, a hovercraft (twice - the first time it didn’t work, and he couldn’t let it go). His ‘Internet of Tings’ was ingenious; a Glockenspiel which you could tweet a tune to, and it would play it.
Richard died unexpectedly in January 2022, and it rocked our world. We miss him and we want to always remember him and what he meant to us.
The INGENUITY hack day is to honour Richard, his legacy for innovation and passion for nurturing people.
We chose to work with Teesside University as his former university, and a powerhouse of digital innovation within his hometown, to develop this exciting memorial hack day which we plan to run every year in his memory.
We hope to make him, his family, and his colleagues proud and one day welcome people just as creative, intelligent, innovative, and completely nuts as him as a result of the challenge.
