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Hello, and welcome back to our monthly newsletter!
It's been another action-packed month for our Digital Strategy team. After a busy period of recruitment, we're looking forward to welcoming two brilliant new members to the team in December and the New Year. We'll also be sharing one further opportunity just before the Christmas break - so make sure to keep your eyes peeled!
Following an inspiring trip to the Smart Cities World Expo in October, we’re looking forward to building on on our recently launched Digitalisation Maturity Assessment to accelerate inclusive, place-based innovation in Manchester. Our Digital Strategy Lead and colleagues from Manchester City Council returned with valuable knowledge, renewed enthusiasm, and strong connections to help us take the next steps in our journey towards creating a more equitable and connected city.
If you're curious about exploring alternative ideas for smart cities, we'd recommend visiting Between the Winds, Amongst the Roots: Bio-Sensing the City - a stunning exhibition on the LED façade of Manchester Metropolitan University's School of Digital Arts. Curated by Polina Chizhova-Wright, the installation explores the relationship between the digital and natural worlds.
We also headed to Ipswich for the National AI Awards, where our People's Panel for AI project was shortlisted as the 'Best Ethical AI Initiative'. Delivered in partnership with the Manchester Metropolitan University, the project aims to bring lived experiences and community perspectives into the development of AI enabled services. While we didn't take home the trophy this time, we're so proud to have been recognised on a national scale as a leading example of ethical and inclusive AI.
Even more excitingly, we'll soon be working with incredible partners from across Manchester City Council and Citizens Advice to host three more panels in the New Year - supporting even more residents share their voices to shape the design and delivery of public services.
In this month's newsletter, we're also sharing our round-up of Digitober activity; championing the Greater Manchester Technology Fund appeal; and highlighting how you could receive support from our Digital Inclusion team as a toolkit partner.
Happy reading, and see you next month!
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How can we use technology to create greener, more inclusive and better connected public spaces?
We're pleased to share Manchester's new Digitalisation Maturity Assessment, developed in partnership with consultancy Drees and Sommer. The assessment offers an overview of Manchester's positioning as a leading digital city and explores technology's role in improving city spaces.
Benchmarking progress against the city’s previous digital maturity assessment, the new report highlights strengths, gaps and opportunities for inclusive digital transformation and sets out strategic recommendations to help accelerate place-based innovation.
Download the report on the Manchester Digital Strategy website to explore findings, insights and recommendations from the research!
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Last week, we travelled to Smart Cities World Expo - the world's biggest urban innovation event, bringing together leaders from across the globe to explore how digital technologies can enable cities of the future.
As part of a delegation led by Greater Manchester Combined Authority, we were proud to join colleagues from GMCA, Manchester City Council and Transport for Greater Manchester in flying the flag for our city.
Across three action-packed days, we embraced opportunities to showcase Manchester achievements and progress on the international stage and to learn from pioneering organisations and innovators across the world. Through inspiring talks, thought-provoking debates, and lasting connections, we left excited to bring our learnings back to Manchester!
Find out more about Greater Manchester's delegation by clicking on the link below.
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We're looking back on a brilliant Digitober!
Each year, we're proud to support GMCA'S regional campaign celebrating and showcasing the incredible work of Greater Manchester's digital sector. Alongside highlighting activities and initiatives across the city, Digitober also amplifies Get Online Week - the UK’s biggest digital inclusion campaign helping thousands to learn new skills and confidently get online.
Couldn’t join us? We’ve gathered all our activities, initiatives, and events in one place so you can catch up on anything you missed!
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Get Online Week Recap
Partnering with organisations across Manchester, our incredible Let's Get Digital team hosted three action-packed events to support residents to take their first - or next - steps online. The team also brought together over 25 representatives from local VCSEs for their quarterly Digital Inclusion Working Group, with speakers exploring device reuse and refurbishment, and lifelong learning and regeneration!
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Digitober Stories Series
Online, our Digitober Stories celebrated how different services across the Council are embracing digital technologies to support businesses, organisations and communities across the city.
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Get Online Week Video
As part of our Get Online Week celebrations, we brought together colleagues from across Council services to share why digital inclusion matters to them and the steps they’re taking to make Manchester a more digitally equal city.
A huge thank you to everyone to everyone who took part in making Manchester's Digitober activities such a success, and to all the services that joined us in sharing their inspiring efforts to tackle the digital divide in Manchester.
We can't wait to see what 2026 has got in store!
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 Unit M Drop-In Sessions
Launched in 2024, Unit M is the University of Manchester's dedicated innovation unit. Supporting Manchester's innovation ecosystem and the wider region, Unit M aims to reimagine how universities fuel innovation.
Curious to find out more and meet the community? Visit one of Unit M's monthly drop-in sessions on the ground floor of the Christabel Pankhurst Institute. The next two meetings will take place on:
- Thursday 20th November, 12-2pm
- Wednesday 10th December, 12-2pm
Whether you’re a local entrepreneur, student, industry partner, investor, academic, UoM colleague, researcher, curious neighbour or general innovation enthusiast, everyone is welcome.
There's no need to sign up - just say hello on the day!
GM Technology Fund Appeal
Greater Manchester Combined Authority is calling on businesses to donate unused laptops, phones and other IT equipment to help residents access vital services such as education, jobs and healthcare.
Since 2020, the Greater Manchester Technology Fund for Families and Communities has supported over 3,500 young people in schools and colleagues across all ten boroughs of Greater Manchester. Now, the renewed appeal aims to reach even more families and communities.
In partnership with charity Community Computers, all donated devices will be securely wiped, refurbished and distributed to residents in need across Greater Manchester.
If you're a business that could help to bridge the digital divide, reduce e-waste and empower communities, head over to the GMCA website to find out more about how you can donate.
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Digital Inclusion Good News
Our Digital Inclusion team have been out and about over the last few weeks, visiting local Toolkit partners such as The Booth Centre and Higher Blakley Community Centre.
Toolkit partners receive help from our Digital Inclusion team to offer valuable digital support to residents and communities. This includes help setting up digital initiatives and support sessions, training volunteer digital champions, and embedding broader digital capabilities within their services.
If you'd to learn more about how you could become a Toolkit partner to better support residents - or you're already keen to get involved - reach out to our Let's Get Digital team at digitalinclusion@manchester.gov.uk.
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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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