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Hello, and welcome back to our monthly newsletter!
Eagle-eyed readers might have noticed something a little different about this month's issue. Have you spotted a new addition to our usual grid of smiling faces?
This month we were thrilled to welcome our new Senior Digital Strategy Officer, Sam Gilmore, to the team. Sam will be leading on the development and delivery of our Digital Inclusion Action Plan, as well as driving forward our existing projects on AI. If you'd like to learn more about these areas of the Strategy, or have an interest in how we can work together to bridge the digital divide in Manchester, make sure to get in touch!
As well as saying hello to Sam, we've started the month off with a bang by launching several new projects. We're particularly excited to receive applications for our CommuniCity challenges, which could help us to overcome some of the biggest barriers faced by marginalised communities in our city. With a pot of €12,500 up for grabs, we can't wait to see what innovative solutions Manchester's tech community conjures up!
Last week, we temporarily escaped the North for the Connected Britain Conference in London, where we were excited to network with industry leaders and share our learnings on embedding digital infrastructure responsibly, thoughtfully, and sustainably.
Senior Digital Strategy Officer Megan Lawless shared her insights on the importance of adopting a people-centric approach to digital, the need to centre the impact on people at the heart of decision making; and the necessity of collaborating with a range of partners to effect meaningful change. Our amazing Digital Inclusion team colleagues, Data Adamia and Chris Northern, also spoke passionately about the importance of digital devices and successful examples of community driven inclusion initiatives. Keep a close eye on our social media for a full event report, coming soon!
In this month's newsletter, we're also sharing the launch of our mobile capacity mapping project; reflecting on our recent People's Panel showcase; and spotlighting some of the incredible events coming up in the next few months.
Happy reading, and see you next month!
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Improving our city’s digital infrastructure could help to improve connectivity for more residents, promote the equitable distribution of digital assets, and even reduce our carbon emissions!
We've partnered with street asset mapping company Inakalum to map mobile capacity across the four major network providers in Manchester to provide a clearer picture of the current network landscape.
Mapping will kick off in the City Centre from next week, using sensors attached to Council bin lorries. By tapping into existing routes through the city centre, we can gather the data we need in a cost-effective and environmentally friendly way without the need for dedicated survey vehicles and specialist staff. Mapping will take place over several days to account for varying use patterns and to monitor how connectivity performs during peak periods.
We hope that the data gathered from the project will help us to be able to see which areas have the best connectivity, and which are in greater need of digital support. Our aim is to not only to improve the lives of residents by enhancing connectivity in places with poorer connection, but to become a more environmentally friendly, sustainable and resilient city through reducing the unnecessary construction of digital assets.
If you're curious to find out more about the project, and how mapping mobile capacity could help inform our decision making around digital infrastructure, explore the full article by clicking the link below.
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Calling all tech innovators in Manchester! Could you help us to overcome some of the biggest challenges faced by marginalised communities in our city?
The Digital Strategy team is thrilled to launch an open call for proposals to deliver three fully-funded pilot projects dedicated to tackling some of the biggest inequalities faced by people living in Manchester.
We are incredibly proud to be one of two UK cities taking part in the CommuniCity initiative in 2024, a transformative EU project that aims to connect local people, businesses, & organisations to co-create innovative approaches to social challenges. As part of CommuniCity's third Open Call round, over 60 pilot projects will be launched in Europe to develop tech-enabled solutions to bridge the digital divide & uplift underserved communities.
We'd love to hear from tech innovators that are passionate about developing approaches to technology that could improve access to cultural activities for minority communities; reduce the information overload for people experiencing poverty; and generate solutions to social challenges in Manchester.
Each challenge is funded up to €12,500, with selected pilot teams receiving a grant to engage local communities and bring their technological solutions to life!.
To find out more details about the challenges, or to submit an application, head over to our website by clicking the link below.
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What are the next steps for the People's Panel for AI?
The first round of our People's Panel might have ended, but our excitement around how we could progress our learnings from the panel certainly hasn't! Our celebratory showcase event in September provided an opportunity to share our key takeaways; the benefits and impact of our activities; and our ideas for the Panel's future.
From developing a more balanced understanding of AI and igniting new passions to building a shared community of people with similar interests, our panellists talked passionately about the benefits they'd gained from taking part in the project. Presenters echoed the panel's positivity, highlighting the value of gathering insights from a broader audience, gaining a fresh perspective beyond their organisational bubble, and ensuring real people are involved in user-centred design from the earliest phases of development.
It was wonderful to see so much support for the project from all corners of Manchester's tech ecosystem, and the drive to ensure that the needs of people are centred in developing solutions to challenges in Manchester's diverse communities. A huge thank you to everyone who attended.
We hope to extend the the impact of the project across Greater Manchester, with plans to embed existing roadshow content within our Digital Inclusion offer and replicating delivery of the People's Panel with small and medium sized businesses. We believe that by championing skills meaningful collaboration between residents and service providers through accessible training, we can build a more inclusive and successful future for everyone in Manchester.
If you'd like to find out more about our work so far, and be the first to find out about our future plans, check out the link below.
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 Manchester Tech Festival
Manchester Tech Festival returns for its third year!
In October 2024, Manchester Tech Festival will be returning for its biggest ever event. With a whole two weeks of meaningful and innovative tech content, our friends at MTF will be shaking things up with a brand new AI conference, a second Women in Tech [Unfiltered] event, and a variety of new speakers, panels, and workshops. Returning to the festival will be their specialist track days and stages, including their Leadership Day, Pathways into Tech, and Cyber Security.
In particular, MTF's Pathways into Tech stage will specifically focus on offering actionable support and advice for tech newbies, tech enthusiasts, career changers, and anyone else looking to pursue a career in tech. Backed by an incredible line-up of new and returning sponsors, this years' tech festival promises to enrich, inspire and examine the future innovation - all in aid of unifying the community and bridging the digital divide across Greater Manchester.
MTF has a commitment to driving opportunities and access to tech for all, wit an emphasis supporting those from disadvantaged backgrounds or those with marginalised identity markers. Community Ticket are available for those who are otherwise unable to purchase a ticket themselves, and these are distributed under an honesty policy, no questions asked.
Interested? To register for your ticket, head over to the MTF website by clicking on the link below.
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Digital Inclusion Good News
After identifying a growing need for digital skills support in her local area, Gale Whitby took matters into her own hands. With the support of our incredible Digital Inclusion team, Gale received the essential resources and funding to launch a digital help drop-in session at Gorton Library.
In last month's bulletin, we highlighted Gale's inspiring work supporting her community to access the services, knowledge, and opportunities afforded by the Internet. Last week, Gale took to the stage at the Connected Britain conference alongside Digital Inclusion Co-Ordinator Chris Northern to share their story and champion the power of grass-roots initiatives.
When residents are empowered with the right support and funding to tackle challenges in their own communities, we can work together to ensure that everybody can benefit from the advantages of technology.
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Every month, we'll be sharing updates, news, and opportunities from the Digital Strategy Team, our partners, and the wider digital ecosystem. Whether you're interested in collaborating, have questions, or simply want to learn more about our ambitious vision for Manchester's digital future, we'd love to hear from you!
Find out about the different ways you can reach us below:
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