Digitober
Digitober 2023
In February 2023, GMCA refreshed 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. 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:
- Showcase how partners across the region are ensuring everyone in Greater Manchester, whatever their age, location or situation, can safely access and benefit from the opportunities digital brings if they want to.
- Shine a spotlight on our digital inclusion ambitions
- Highlight how Greater Manchester is applying exemplary digital ideas and practice to reform and renew public services, linking innovative business, academic and public sector thinking with the needs of our people.
- Celebrate our world class digital infrastructure and how we're using technology and data to create resilient, connected, accessible and sustainable places for everyone.
- Spotlight how we’re strengthening our position as a global digital influencer.
- Once again, support Get Online Week (external website) - a national digital inclusion campaign from Good Things Foundation.
During October we'll post blogs, case studies, videos and events on this page.
What's on
View a list of events we promoted during Digitober 2023.
Find out what Wigan Council are doing this Digitober (external website)
Find out what Bolton Council are hosting this Digitober (external website)
Read about activity in Stockport, during Digitober (external website)
Blogs
Read "protecting your online gaming reputation" (external website) from Manchester's Digital Security Hub (DiSH)
Read "How Digital Her is encouraging young women into the tech sector" (external website) from Manchester Digital
Read "from plan to ecosystem: the role of digital skills as a driver of the digital economy" (external website) from the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce
Read "Doing Digital Differently: How Greater Manchester is building upon its broad horizons (external website)" from MIDAS
Read "Skills Bootcamps - community led to fix the digital divide" (external website) from We Are Group
Read "Salford Council donates phased out laptops to families in need" (external website) from Salford Council's Digital Inclusion team.
Read "A taste of cybersecurity for social enterprises" (external website) from Digital Stockport.
News and media
Digital Skills Map launched in Greater Manchester helping residents to get online & building skills. Find out more on Get Online Greater Manchester: Digital Skills Map.
Read UK’s biggest social housing digital inclusion pilot makes positive steps to tackle digital divide.
Putting people at the heart of digital technology for Digitober (external website). By Councillor Nazia Rehman, Portfolio holder for finance, resources and transformation, Wigan Council.
Wigan Library to be turned into digital hub for special event (external website)
Bolton: Helping to enhance people's digital skills (external website)
Digital Futures, part of the University of Manchester highlight their work we in AI. Find out more via their brochure "AI at The University of Manchester" (external website)
Video
Cllr Nick Peel, GMCA Lead for Digital talks Digitober 2023. Watch on X (external website) or LinkedIn (external website).
Alex Yoxall, Wigan Council shared his aspirations for Digitober 2023. Watch on X (external website) or LinkedIn (external website).
Claire, from HMR Circle, a member of Greater Manchester's Digital Inclusion Taskforce celebrated Digitober by looking back on all the learners and volunteers that have been joining digital support classes in the last 2 years, helping residents over 50 to get online. Watch on X (external website), LinkedIn (external website) or Facebook (external website).
Virgin Media O2 Business celebrated their Connect More programme, piloted here in Greater Manchester. Watch on X (external website), or LinkedIn (external website)
That Bread and Butter Thing talked about their connecting with Confidence programme supporting people in low-income communities to get online & digitally active. Watch on X (external website), or LinkedIn (external website).
Fantastic new video from Wythenshawe Community Housing Group and Virgin Media who took part in Get Online Greater Manchester for social housing residents. Watch on YouTube (external website).
Hot topic video on AI from Digital Futures, University of Manchester. Watch the video on YouTube (external website).
Social media
Raise awareness of the campaign month across social media using #Digitober. Download the Digitober campaign toolkit.
