Newport has hosted Wales’ biggest gathering of web designers and developers this year, due to the initiative of a city-based businessman.

Joel Hughes, managing director of Jojet, Newport, decided a few months ago that he would be organising a conference for web specialists from across the UK in Gwent.

The blog he wrote about his plans went so viral on social media networks, that within weeks a number of top speakers were banging on his door asking to take part and so Port 80 was born.

The event was held at the University of Wales, Newport.

The key speakers included Relly Annett-Baker, Andy Davies, Dan Gates, Cole Henley, Craig Lockwood, Rich Quick and Newport duo Tom Lloyd and Rob Mills, of Bluegg.

Joel said: “I thought it was going to be harder to get the speaker slots filled but, within two weeks, it was done. I got a website built for the event, people started buying tickets, and then suddenly I could see it going forward to next year.

“We had people attending from places like Brighton and London. The response this year was fantastic.”

Joel said: “Port 80 is a techy term. There is a protocol running behind the internet which is how it works. Web servers ‘listen’ on a thing called Port 80 – and all web developers will understand what that is.”