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Hello, and welcome back to our monthly newsletter!
Have you spotted any changes to our website lately?
As digital technologies become increasingly integrated into society, it's crucial to ensure that they work for all of our diverse communities. We believe in championing ethical and inclusive approaches to digital that centre human need.
To put these principles into practice, we've been working with Nexer Digital to ensure our Strategy website is fully accessible to anyone curious to learn more about our work. In January, Nexer's inclusive design experts conducted a comprehensive audit of the Digital Strategy site to identify the challenges our website could present for disabled and neurodivergent users.
While we're excited to share more in-depth learnings from the project soon, you might have already noticed some new additions to our site! For early insights into our next steps, our accessibility statement sets our what we've done so far to make our website more inclusive, and what we're committed to improving over the next six months.
Our Strategy impacts everyone in Manchester. Through adapting our website to better consider the needs of all users, we want to ensure we're embodying the values we espouse.
In this month's newsletter, we're also celebrating the launch of the government's Digital Inclusion Action Plan; sharing our 2025 Let's Get Digital's repo; and inviting you to join us at Connected North 2025, one of the UK's biggest regional connectivity events.
Happy reading, and see you next month!
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As digital inclusion finally becomes part of the national agenda, we're beyond proud to see Manchester City Council's Let's Get Digital programme recognised as an example of best practice!
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology's Digital Inclusion Action Plan, launched this month, marks a decisive step towards bridging the digital divide in the UK.
With the release of the Digital Inclusion Action Plan, we’re thrilled to see recognition of the vital role of community-led digital inclusion initiatives, and practical steps towards large-scale, collaborative action that will enable so many people across the UK to access technology that could improve their quality of life.
To learn more about the government's first steps to break down barriers to digital inclusion, click on the link below to read the full report.
You can also share your views on the action plan as part of the government's call for evidence to inform best practice approaches to closing the digital divide. Have your say and help to shape the future of digital inclusion!
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What sets Manchester’s approach to digital technologies apart?
With our 2025 Delivery Plan due to launch this month, Digital Strategy Officer Becky McMillan was thrilled to be invited to talk about the projects we've been most proud to deliver this year - and the values underpinning our work - in the latest issue of Government Technology Magazine.
Exploring tech innovation, IT and digital solutions in the public sector, the newly launched magazine aims to highlight stories that showcase the potential of technology to improve public services and deliver a better quality of life for people across the UK.
In this month's issue, we're proud to share good practice examples of digital innovation that empower our diverse communities, offer new opportunities for residents and attract investment for sustainable growth.
If you’re curious to learn more about our ambitions to build a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable future for Manchester – and the initiatives driving the delivery of the Strategy – make sure to check out the full article on page 19!
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We're speaking at Connected North!
As one of the UK's biggest regional digital infrastructure events, Connected North brings together connectivity providers, regulators, local authorities, and tech companies to explore how innovations in technology and connectivity could enable new opportunities for social and economic growth.
Offering opportunities for speaking, networking, showcases, and use-case presentations, we were thrilled to be invited to be a part of this year's agenda and join the conversation around driving equitable, high-quality and sustainable connectivity in the North of the UK.
If you're curious to learn more about our approach to digital, and the ways we're working with partners to champion approaches to connectivity that enable equal opportunity across Manchester, join us at the event on the 23rd and 24th April!
Here's where you'll find our team:
+ Digital Strategy Lead, Sherelle Fairweather, will be speaking on the AI Impact panel, exploring the use and impact of AI in the North and how we can advocate for ethical, responsible, and sustainable approaches to its adoption.
+ Senior Digital Strategy Officer Megan Lawless will be joining the Mobile Network Deployment in the North & Midlands panel to discuss the benefits of public-private collaboration, and learnings from our own mobile connectivity mapping project.
+ Digital Inclusion Co-Ordinator Chris Northen will be presenting a talk on Closing the Loop and Bridging the Digital Divide Through Partnership Working in partnership with Adrian Nottingham from Community Computers.
We're looking forward to sharing more details soon, including the talks from colleagues we're most looking forward to attending! To discover all the sessions on offer, head over to the Connected North website to explore the agenda in full.
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Calling All Black Women In Tech
In partnership with Beetroot Consulting, Manchester Digital, and Purple Bonsai, Manchester City Council is thrilled to sponsor the second phase of "Where Are All the Black Women in Tech?": an eco-system wide initiative exploring the systemic barriers faced by Black women in the industry and the actions needed to drive lasting change.
If you're a Black woman working in tech in the North West, we want you to join us in co-creating the vision for a more supportive, empowering and equitable workplace culture.
Whether you're interested in:
💬 Joining a workshop to share your insights and experiences ✉️ Receiving the latest updates on key findings & upcoming events 🧡 Supporting this vital work
We'd love for you to be a part of the movement!
You can sign up if you're:
✅ A black woman working in tech - in any role, and a any stage of your career ✅ Employed full-time, part-time, freelance, or as a founder ✅ Living or working in the North West of England
Find out more, or register for a workshop, by completing the form below.
Our Lives, Our Privacy Exhibition
Manchester Libraries offer far more than books. Walk through the doors and you'll soon discover a hub of cultural activity, offering business support, film screenings, exhibitions and even live performances!
We're excited to share the latest exhibition from the Information Commissioner's Office, launching at Manchester Central Library at 5:30pm on Wednesday 2nd April 2025.
Exploring 40 items that shaped 40 years of privacy rights, the exhibition will be featured on the first floor of Manchester Central Library between April and June.
To celebrate the launch, everyone in Manchester is invited to join an evening of provocative conversations exploring what the future of privacy will look like for the children of today. The exhibition, and line-up of engaging speakers, will explore the journey of privacy over the last four decades and how this influences its future.
To book your free ticket, or to learn more about the launch event, click the link below.
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Digital Inclusion Report 2025
Our Let's Get Digital programme, highlighted in the government's Digital Inclusion Action Plan, supports Manchester residents to become regular, confident online users.
Last week, we shared Let's Get Digital's 2025 Report, highlighting the ambition and impact of the programme and steps going forward.
Over the last year, our Digital Inclusion team have been proud to gift over 4,000 free SIMs to vulnerable people; train 32 digital volunteers to offer peer support to residents struggling with digital access; create a comprehensive directory of digital skills drop-in sessions; and much more!
To learn more about the actions our Inclusion team are taking to realise a more equitable digital futury, head over to the Manchester Libraries blog to read the full report.
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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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