City region's digital ecosystem celebrated throughout October

In February 2020, the GMCA launched the Greater Manchester Digital Blueprint. The blueprint sets out the next chapter in our ambition to be recognised as a world-leading digital city region, with an ongoing commitment to taking an open, innovative and connective approach to delivering that ambition. We remain committed to being a digital city-region with a difference. By putting people at the heart of our plans we aim for a more inclusive approach that builds on our greatest asset.

Digitober is a month that will celebrate and showcase the amazing work of Greater Manchester’s digital sector. In particular, the month will:

• Share how GMCA and partners and partners are ensuring that everyone in Greater Manchester, whatever their age, location or situation, can benefit from the opportunities digital brings
• Share progress of our digital inclusion ambitions, including Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, vision for Greater Manchester to become one of the first city-regions in the world to equip all under-25s, over-75s and disabled people with the skills
• Take a look at the work underway to ensure Greater Manchester has the digital infrastructure it needs to be a world class digital city region, including the completion of Local Full Fibre Network programme (LFFN) Programme and what’s next for the region 
• Once again, support Get Online Week (external website) - a national digital inclusion campaign from Good Things Foundation.

So far, Digitober has proudly included:

• Greater Manchester appoints partner to spearhead digital revolution across public estate

Blogs

• Why Greater Manchester is putting Cybergirls First? (external website)
• How a bank is tackling the digital divide (external website)
• Greater Manchester on tour - International Cyber Expo (external website)
• Why we must act now to confront the new global digital divide (external website)
• Get Online Week - Helen's story (external website)
• New mentoring programme for women in tech (external website)

Case studies

• Using infrastructure to tackle digital exclusion
• Wigan TechMates support residents doing digital in later life

Video

Celebrating two years of Greater Manchester's Digital Inclusion Taskforce

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham opens Digitober

We’ve also been pleased to speak at DTX Europe, Microsoft Ignite, Nominet’s Digital Youth Index report launch and Manchester Tech Festival.

Cllr Eamonn O’Brien, GMCA Lead for Employment, Skills and Digital said: “I'm happy to be taking part in my very first Digitober, the third time this annual event has been hosted by the combined authority. We aim to celebrate and showcase the great work that's been happening in the digital sector across Greater Manchester. Throughout the month I’m pleased to see voices of local people coming through loud and strong.”

More content will be shared throughout October, further information is available on Digitober and how to get involved.

Article Published: 18/10/2022 11:54 AM