A new blueprint has been published outlining how Greater Manchester will grow its status as a “world-class digital destination” over the next 3 years.
The Greater Manchester Digital Blueprint states that data and technology will play a “crucial role in making the city region a greener, fairer and more prosperous place.”
“Greater Manchester has fastest-growing digital economy in Europe, and we’re home to a thriving £5 billion digital ecosystem. Over the last three years we’ve built on that Greater Manchester spirit of doing things differently and leading the way – and the next three years will be another exciting chapter,” stated Cllr Eamonn O’Brien, GMCA Lead for Education, Skills, Work, Apprenticeships & Digital.
“We continue to grow as a world-leading digital city region and remain committed to being open, innovative and connected, empowering our people and communities to thrive. We’re building responsible, data driven public services and creating connected, inclusive and sustainable places.
“Together, we want to better the lives our people and for everyone to feel empowered by the opportunities being a world leading digital city region can bring. By putting people, the environment and places at the heart of our plans, we are taking an inclusive and sustainable approach to being an international digital powerhouse!”
Originally launched in 2020, this new 2023-26 Digital Blueprint is effectively a refresh by Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) along with stakeholders and communities from across the region’s digital and tech sector.
The targets are:
- 200,000 people will have been engaged to help them to benefit from the digital world in 2023-24
- Achieve minimum 90% gigabit coverage across Greater Manchester by 2024, levelling up localities that are below that percentage
- More than 87.9% of premises in all Lower Layer Super Output Areas (LSOA) will be able to access more than 30mbps landline connection speed by 2024 (5% of LSOA currently do not meet this target)
- 75% of Greater Manchester firms are able to fill their digital and tech vacancies by 2025
- Number of people in digital sector roles in Greater Manchester to reach 95,000 by 2026
- Early Years developmental assessments will have been digitised in eight areas across the city-region by 2026 as part of measures to improve school readiness
- Greater Manchester’s technology and data sector size to reach £5.5bn by 2025 and £7bn by 2029
“Greater Manchester’s digital ecosystem has never been stronger. Our city-region draws skilled people from far and wide and nurtures talent from our own communities, helping to attract unprecedented levels of investment,” added Lou Cordwell OBE, Chair of Greater Manchester Business Board (LEP).
“Through continued growth and innovation, we can play a central role in the UK becoming a science and technology superpower while ensuring our people benefit. Dynamic collaborations between our companies, universities and research institutions, the public sector, and our communities, are the driving force behind this.”
The document lists 5 priority areas:
- Empowering people and communities;
- Building responsible, data driven public services;
- Enabling a resilient and prosperous economy;
- Creating connected, inclusive, sustainable places;
- and Strengthening our position as a global digital influencer
It also outlines 4 “strategic enablers”:
- Building digital skills and literacy for life, education, work and business
- Strengthening our digital talent pipeline
- Extending our world class digital infrastructure, technology and data
- Harnessing academia, testbeds and research
“If Greater Manchester is truly going to be a world leading digital city region, we have to make a big commitment to fix the digital divide, the consequences of not doing so are severe” stated Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester.
According to the report, inward investment in Greater Manchester’s tech companies has grown more than 1000% since 2017/18. The aim is for the blueprint to “embed and accelerate” this growth going forward.
