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Hello, and welcome back to our monthly newsletter.
It's been an action-packed month for the team, with a plethora of fantastic events happening across the city - a few of our own making!
Alongside hosting our own Good AI Ecosystem event (more on this below), we were pleased to play a part in Greater Manchester's Global AI Cities conference - a global forum for city leaders, policy makers and public servants to examine the role of AI in placemaking. Senior Digital Strategy Officer Sam Milsom took to the stage with digital leaders from around the world to discuss how cities can build trust in AI, while our Digital Strategy Lead Sherelle Fairweather shared Manchester's experiences and lessons learned as part of a strategic forum with senior city leaders. Missed out? Explore more of our reflections from the day over on LinkedIn.
This July, Digital Strategy Officer Becky McMillan also enjoyed a trip back to the classroom. As part of Transport for Greater Manchester's student engagement day at Chorlton High School, we shared our insights into how drones could be used to support public services, and what being a Digital Strategy Officer really involves. During a whole-year assembly, students discovered how TfGM are using drones to reduce congestion and monitor traffic across the transport network (including footage captured from the roof of their school!) Interactive workshops gave students an opportunity to step into the role of strategic decision-makers, debating the opportunities and challenges of using drones for healthcare and food deliveries. We were hugely impressed by the students' curiosity, enthusiasm and incisive contributions. With minds like this at work, the future of public services is certainly bright.
In this month's newsletter, we're also celebrating the launch of our Mobile Coverage Checker tool; reflecting on the North-West launch of Sovereign AI; and sharing an exciting opportunity to connect with the next generation of digital talent.
Happy reading, and see you next month!
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This month, we launched our Mobile Coverage Checker - a free, interactive tool to help businesses and residents check mobile signal and performance across thousands of streets in the city.
Developed in partnership with street asset company Inakalum, the Coverage Checker offers a reliable overview of how all four major networks perform in real-world conditions.
In our recent LinkedIn series, we shared a behind-the-scenes look at how we worked with Inakalum to build a reliable and accurate picture of Manchester's mobile network, and what the data reveals about connectivity in the city:
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Part 1: Explore the Tool
Learn more about how the Mobile Coverage Checker works - or enter your postcode into the tool to compare network signal and performance across Vodafone, EE, Virgin Media and Three!
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Part 2: Read the Blog
Discover how Inakalum captured over 2 million data points across the city in just four weeks, and how insights from the data are helping us to better understand Manchester’s connectivity strengths and areas for development.
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Part 3: Explore the Report
We're proud that our proactive approach to engaging with operators has been recognised in Mobile UK's Small Changes, Big Rewards report, developed in partnership with TYI. In the final part of our LinkedIn series, learn more about how developing our understanding of Manchester's connectivity landscape could help us to work more effectively with network operators to co-ordinate our approach.
We believe that everyone should be able to access and benefit from high-quality, reliable connectivity. By building a trusted evidence base for mobile performance and signal, we hope to work collaboratively with partners to shape a future for Manchester where residents, businesses and visitors can benefit from connectivity that is high-quality, accessible and affordable.
Try the tool for yourself to see what connectivity looks like in your area!
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A huge thank you to everyone who joined us at our Good AI Ecosystem at NatWest Accelerator event this month!
From infrastructure and investment to accessibility and social connection, our speakers tackled some of the most pressing questions around the human and societal impacts of AI adoption - informed by professional insights and lived experiences.
Attendees from a diverse range of sectors and backgrounds shared their perspectives on the opportunities and challenges of AI adoption - with conversations continuing well into the evening!
Over the last few weeks, we've really enjoyed reading reflections from the event. Below we've brought together a selection of some of the write-ups we've spotted across social media - capturing some of the key discussions, insights and takeaways from the evening:
You can also head over to the Manchester Digital Strategy LinkedIn page to read our own reflections from the event!
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Last week, we were thrilled to join local founders, investors, academics and ecosystem leaders at the North West launch of Sovereign AI!
Sovereign AI is a £500 million government-backed venture fund that aims to strengthen the UK's AI capacity and capabilities by helping high-potential British founders build the next generation of globally leading AI companies.
James Wise, Chair of DSIT's Sovereign AI Unit, outlined the government's vision to support visionary AI founders and entrepreneurs in the UK to scale rapidly. Through access to capital, data and compute - and a willingness to back ambitious, high-risk ideas - the programme aims to enable Britain to compete on the global AI stage while strengthening the resilience and security of the country's AI supply chain.
Learn more about the Sovereign AI programme by heading over to the link below!
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 AWS re/Start: Celebrating Manchester's Emerging Tech Talent
Are you an employer in Greater Manchester looking to connect with fresh digital talent?
AWS re/Start is a pioneering free cloud workforce development programme helping unemployed and underemployed people launch life-changing tech careers. Over the nine years, the programme has helped more than 20,000 people secure roles in the tech and digital sector.
On Friday 24th July, you're invited to join IN4 Group at the AWS Manchester offices to celebrate the achievements of the latest AWS re/Start cohort and connect with emerging digital talent.
As demand for digital and AI skills continues to grow, this event brings together employers, partners, and graduates to support inclusive growth and strengthen future talent pipelines. It’s an opportunity to meet motivated, job-ready individuals, learn more about the AWS re/Start programme, and connect with organisations investing in workforce development across Greater Manchester.
Learn more or reserve your ticket below.
UNESCO Launches Family Guide for the Digital World
Digital technology is playing an increasingly influential role in young people's lives, yet many families feel unequipped to keep pace with the rapid rate of change.
In partnership with the the French Media and Information Centre, UNESCO has launched a new guide - Growing up in a Conneced World - designed to support parents, families and caregivers worldwide.
The guide provides accessible, evidence-based advice on screen use, social media, cyberviolence, content creation, algorithms, artificial intelligence and more.
Through supporting families, UNESCO aims to place practical tools directly in the hands of parents, helping them to make more informed choices about the use of technology within family life.
Discover the full guide on the UNESCO website below.
Manchester Tops UK For AI Readiness
Manchester has been crowned as the UK's most AI-ready city for the third year running.
The SAS AI Cities Index, now in its fifth year, evaluates cities outside of London across eight key criteria - including job opportunities, innovation funding secured, education opportunities, broadband speed, and business activity in the AI sector.
We're delighted to see Manchester retain its position in the top spot, with the report highlighting record levels of AI employment, significant Innovate UK investment activity and a high number of graduate outcomes in computing and engineering. Initiatives including IN4 Group's MEGA hub programmes, the Future of Work Alliance and the University of Manchester's Unit M Deep Tech Accelerator were also recognised for their contributions to the city's thriving AI ecosystem.
Explore the research on the SAS website below.
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Digital Inclusion Good News
Digital Inclusion Officer Georgie McRae was delighted to attend the English of Speakers of Other Language Summer Fair at Longsight Library.
Events like this are a fantastic opportunity to connect with residents, raise awareness of available support, and help more people build the confidence and skills they need to get online safely and independently.
Georgie had a fantastic time meeting Longsight residents and helping more people find the support, opportunities and resources that could make a real difference in their everyday lives.
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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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