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Hello, and welcome back to our monthly newsletter!
Our Digital Strategy team is growing, and recruitment is now well underway for our three exciting new roles. We're looking forward to expanding our team, scaling our impact and introducing some new faces.
Over the last few weeks, we've been sharing early learnings from the first phase of our consultancy work with Drees & Sommer, exploring the role of technology in place-based connected placemaking. Last week, we held an engagement session with partners to gather feedback on the research and inform our next steps going forward. If you're curious to learn more about our connected placemaking journey, you can hear insights from our Digital Strategy Lead Sherelle Fairweather and Drees & Sommer's Lead Expert Minu Tegethof on the latest episode of Smart in the City. We'll also be sharing findings and next steps from the work more broadly during the first week of the Smart City Expo World Congress!
Across the whole of the month, we'll be taking part in #Digitober, Greater Manchester Combined Authority's annual celebration of the inspiring work happening across Manchester's digital sector. Keep an eye out to discover why digital inclusion matters to services across the Council, how our ICT team is pioneering new technologies to build better services, and why supporting digital skills development is helping Manchester to thrive as a UNESCO City of Lifelong Learning!
In this month's newsletter, we're also sharing our new report exploring how we can strengthen Manchester's Tech for Good community to drive inclusive growth; sharing a new platform for tech events in Manchester; and highlighting how you can take part in our Digital Inclusion team's Get Online Week activities.
Happy reading, and see you next month!
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This week, we were thrilled to launch our new report, Tech for Good in a Human-Centered Economy.
Developed in partnership with social enterprise Bassajamba, and the Federation, an ethical innovation community, the report explores the current and future role of the Tech for Good community in achieving Manchester’s vision of becoming an inclusive leading digital city.
Recognising Tech for Good as a distinct ecosystem, the report offers insights into approaches that could better support Manchester’s Tech for Good community and enable grassroots solutions to social challenges. It outlines a vision for a ‘Smarter’ city and economy, where human-centric systems and frameworks are embedded in smart city approaches.
Join us in taking action to unlock the full potential of Manchester's Tech for Good community and help build a fairer future for everyone in our city! Click the links below to download the summary report, or read the full research paper.
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It was a pleasure to visit Glasgow's stunning City Chambers this month, to learn more about the City Council's inspiring approach to digital!
Exploring learnings across data, digital connectivity, technology-enabled care and digital skills, the day was a fantastic opportunity to deepen our understanding of leading public sector approaches to tech and digital.
By learning from other local authorities with shared challenges and ambitions, we hope to build our collective knowledge, explore different perspectives and ways of working, and inspire innovative new ideas.
We're exited to build on this valuable partnership, and look forward to welcoming Glasgow City Council colleagues to Manchester soon!
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Have you ever spotted that unmissable conference event, only to realise that your diary's already double-booked?
To help you never miss out on an event again, we're thrilled to be sponsoring ManchesterTechEvents.com – a free, open and accessible events platform designed to serve everyone in Manchester’s tech community.
By supporting initiatives that improve the discoverability of digital and tech sector events in Manchester, we hope to broaden access to events, encourage collaboration and support ecosystem growth.
The new site introduces an array of new features to better showcase Manchester’s tech events offer, making it easier for Manchester’s tech community to discover, access and get involved with everything happening across the city.
Expect to see:
+ Email notifications to never miss out on an event again
+ AI-powered parsing for effortless event creation
+ Bulk uploads built for organisers
+ Direct integrations with Eventbrite, Luma & more
+ Automatic location extraction for smarter discovery
Whether you’re an event organiser, tech professional, first-time founder - or anywhere in between! - the site is free for anyone interested in shaping, supporting or exploring Manchester’s tech events scene.
To explore the new site, sign up for alerts, or start listing your events, click the link below and let us know what you think! 👇
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 Venture Café Launch
Venture Café Manchester launches next week!
On Thursday 23rd October (5-8PM) Manchester’s chapter of the global Venture Café network will officially open, building a community dedicated to connecting innovators and creating open, inclusive ecosystems.
The very first Thursday Gathering will feature:
✨ Insights on what Venture Café Global Institute brings to Manchester
✨ An Innovation Showcase with cutting-edge tech
✨ Interactive workshops to spark creativity
✨ Opportunities to connect with entrepreneurs, investors, and visionaries
The weekly gatherings will be designed with and for the community, with content shaped through collaborations across Manchester’s innovation ecosystem.
Join us at Sister to be a part of this exciting launch, and help set the tone for what’s ahead.
Don't miss out - click on the link below to register!
2026 Sector Insights Report
Help to shape the future of Greater Manchester's tech sector!
Each year, Manchester Digital's Sector Insights Report helps to shape regional priorities across economic outlook, infrastructure and ecosystem, growth and innovation, people and skills, and driving diversity.
If you're a tech leader based in Greater Manchester, make sure your views are represented by sharing your insights in this year's survey.
As a thank you, there is an optional prize draw for a £200 One4All or Amazon voucher, or Manchester Digital will donate £200 to a charity of your choice.
Complete the survey via the link below!
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Digital Inclusion Good News
Get Online Week is nearly here - and we don't want you to miss out!
Our incredible Digital Inclusion team have got two action-packed days of activities in store to help more people across the city discover the benefits of being online and build their confidence using the Internet.
Next week, the team will be hosting two free events at Gorton Hub and at Central Library, featuring hands-on workshops, interactive demonstrations and a bustling marketplace of stalls sharing information on local services!
Whether you're supporting others to get online safely or interested in learning new skills - there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Find out more by clicking on the link below or sign up to secure your workshop place!
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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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