New Updates | January 2024
Happy New Year from Manchester Digital!
January always seems to fly by as it is our annual Digital Skills Festival in the first week of February. Each year the festival brings new ideas and opportunities that help us shape how we work and support more people looking for opportunities to learn more about the sector.
The Conference delivers thought-provoking discussions that help business leaders understand emerging trends and beyond the conference, the festival highlights pathways into tech, through our apprenticeship day and Talent Day.
We still need your input on the 2024 Skills Audit. Your response gives direct input on the skills needs and gaps facing regional employers.
We have gone bigger than ever for Talent Day, choosing Bridgewater Hall as this years venue. The venue will provide more space for job seekers to move around and chat with hiring businesses, whilst taking a moment to marvel at the iconic venue.
Digital Her day is a new addition this year, which will help women in tech to connect, upskill & feel inspired, and is supported by organisations passionate about gender equity in the digital sector.
To round off the week, you'll have the chance to upskill by attending our professional development sessions.
The Skills Festival isn't the only thing taking place however, and we're also working in the background on our 2024 conferences and events. We've put together a handy infographic of our 2024 events for you to bookmark and if you'd like to present at any of our events, then please get in touch with kate.wilson@fenxiong.net.
In this roundup you'll find:
- How you can contribute to helping shape the future workforce and continued prosperity in our region.
- How we are supporting Startups in 2024.
- Ways to meet other members - Ecommerce 2024 announced!
- How to get the most out of your hiring.
- Everything else that's going on!
Events coming up:
2024 Event Calendar
Our 2024 Events Calendar is now live!
Jot these dates down in your diary to make sure you don't miss out!
Manchester Digital Tech Leader Talks
Thu, 7 Mar 2024 09:00 - 10:30 | Manchester Technology Centre
Manchester Digital's Tech Leader Talks offers the opportunity for senior leaders in large-scale digital and tech businesses here in the North West to come together with other C-Level individuals to network, share best practices and make new connections.
This event will be in the format of a breakfast networking session followed by a Q & A. The morning will include a light breakfast for all attendees, refreshments and an Industry Insight session.
Our Ecommerce conference is back!
Thu, 21 March | 13:00 - 17:00 | No1 Circle Square
Join us for an immersive full-day conference filled with enlightening learning sessions, captivating keynote speakers, and thought-provoking panel discussions. Dive deep into the world of AI-driven Conversational Interfaces, unravel the technology powering dynamic product recommendations, and dissect the impact on customer engagement and skyrocketing sales. That's not all – we'll also navigate the intricacies of Customer Journey Optimisation and unveil much more!
Speaking opportunities available.
Contact kate.wilson@fenxiong.net to discuss partnership opportunities.
Other events
Kickstart January by organising your events calendar for 2024.
Last chance! Skills Audit 2024
We need your contribution to help shape the future workforce and continued prosperity in our region.
The 2024 Digital Skills Audit provides critical insights into our local talent that inform workforce development programs. Your response gives direct input on the skills needs and gaps facing regional employers.
We know your time is limited, so we've kept the surveys concise at 10 minutes. Consider forwarding internally to an HR leader or your senior manager able to complete the Audit if not the right contact.
- For Business leaders (covering: Business Confidence, Recruitment, Skill Gaps and more).
- For HR professionals (Covering Demographics, L&D and more).
As an added incentive, we'll donate £500 to FareShare Greater Manchester which does vital work combatting food poverty and food waste in and around our city. We'll also draw a winner at random from everyone who completes the Skills Audit, who will be able to donate £500 to a charity of their choosing in their or their organisation's name.
Please contribute your perspectives to the Skills Audit today or pass this along to an internal expert who can.
Every completed survey helps ensure our research and future programs directly address employer and talent needs across the region. We hugely appreciate your contribution.
The Startup Activator.
The Startup Activator will give businesses an unbiased and unvarnished view of the Startup landscape and an introduction to all the programmes, investments and support that are on offer across the Greater Manchester region.
Read the Startup Review report here.
Startup Activator Launch Session: From Idea to Early Traction
Thu, 25 Jan 2024 16:00 - 18:00 | Manchester Technology Centre
If you are a Founder of an early start up - join us for this free session offering advice and support. We’ll be focussing on ideas to early traction in this session and offering legal guidance. Not to be missed!
Are you an early-stage Startup Founder?
Manchester Digital's Startup Activator will help startups in the Greater Manchester region maximise success, taking you from idea to early traction stage with all the knowledge and resources you need to flourish.
The programme will include exclusive founder network meetups, workshops and access to an active supportive community which includes investors, trusted professional service support and more.
Join The Startup Activator today
Can you help Startups? We’re looking for partners.
We are looking for 4 partners to support this programme and help us deliver 12 months of valuable information and insight to the next generation of tech businesses and make sure that Greater Manchester continues to grow great businesses.
Contact kate.wilson@fenxiong.net to discuss
Digital Skills Festival
Not long to go! There's still time to grab your tickets for this years Digital Skills Festival.
Digital Skills Festival 2024: Conference Day
Mon, 5 Feb 2024 | 13:00 - 18:15 | No1 Circle Square
Manchester Digital's Digital Skills Festival will be launched with our Conference Day, bringing together industry experts, thought leaders and key stakeholders from across the sector for an afternoon of panels, talks and networking opportunities as we discuss some of the key challenges and trends impacting the industry.
Digital Skills Festival 2024: Digital Apprenticeships Day (For Businesses)
Tue, 6 Feb 2024 | 14:00 - 16:00 | No1 Circle Square
Offering apprenticeships provides amazing benefits for your organisation and the sector at large, but starting that process can sometimes feel daunting.
This afternoon session is designed to help employers explore their options and hear from organisations who can share their insights and wisdom around employing digital apprentices.
Connect with other businesses who share your values, ask your most pressing questions and get inspired by empowering & employing the next generation of tech talent.
Digital Skills Festival 2024: Talent Day
Wed, 7 Feb | 10:00 - 16:00 | Bridgewater Hall
Talent Day is an event for businesses who are hiring early career in the next 1 - 2 years and want to get in front of graduates, job switchers and more.
This is an event for businesses that want to have conversations with proactive job seekers and who want to build their talent pipeline.
Our last Talent Day attracted over 1800 signups and was the biggest careers fair in the North West. If you’d like to exhibit at this year's talent day, find more information here.
Let me know if you would like to send over more details.
DSF 2024: Make Management Your Superpower
Fri, 9 Feb 2024 | 10:30 - 12:30
Managers in organisations of all shapes and sizes have encountered significant challenges over the last few years in doing just that - managing. Dispersed workers, multi-generational workforces, political uncertainty, and stagnant economies have made the actual practice of managing more complex and difficult.
In this session we will analyse some of the factors causing the challenges managers currently face and develop a blueprint of best practice that attendees can take away, populating their own management action plan.
DSF 2024: Yoga for Desk Workers with Feather and Rock yoga
Fri, 9 Feb 2024 | 13:00 - 13:40
Working at a desk or computer all day takes its toll on the body and the mind. This 40 minute online session will help to alleviate achy shoulders, necks and lower backs with simple exercises that gently stretch and strengthen. feather and rock invites you to carve out some time during your working day to use your computer for your positive well-being.
DSF 2024: Building Accessible & Sustainable Websites for People and Planet
Fri, 9 Feb 2024 | 14:00 - 16:00
In this workshop, you’ll learn development techniques to help make your site more sustainable and accessible, where the two intersect and complement one another, and how teams can embed the process from start to finish.
Are you currently recruiting?
Each Tuesday, the jobs board round-up is shared on our social media channels and groups from the Manchester Digital jobs board to let job seekers discover new roles.
If you are recruiting, let me know! Email at: myles.hamiliton@fenxiong.net
Digital Skills Festival 2024: Talent Day
Wed, 7 Feb | 10:00 - 16:00 | Bridgewater Hall
Talent Day is an event for businesses who are hiring early career in the next 1 - 2 years and want to get in front of graduates, job switchers and more.
This is an event for businesses that want to have conversations with proactive job seekers and who want to build their talent pipeline.
Our last Talent Day attracted over 1800 signups and was the biggest careers fair in the North West. If you’d like to exhibit at this year's talent day, find more information here.
Let me know if you would like to send over more details.
Are you looking for a new role?
Curious about innovation at The Home Office?
Have you ever wondered how technological advancements enable the Home Office to keep our country secure and allow us to utilise government services? Well, now you have the opportunity to find out. Join our webinar event on the 29th of February.
We can now support your international growth.
We’re excited to announce that we can help support members make the most of the global opportunities available to them. If you’re looking at international growth, market expansion, cost savings, regulatory compliance, or generally interested in overseas markets, then let me know.
This is enabled by an affiliation partnership with Santander’s Navigator platform and as Manchester Digital members, you will get free access to the ‘Prepare’ subscription package on Santander Navigator, a saving of £1,800 on the standard cost for this level of subscription.
Visiting London soon?
As a member, you can now gain access to discounted membership at The Home Grown Club for those visiting London - Access their exclusive member-only events, Community, Facilities inc 35 bedrooms, meeting rooms, lounge, bar, terrace, event space and more.
Perfect for when visiting large conferences like the London Tech Week and needing a space to check in with work.
Community Channels
- Member News
- Member Events Calendar
- Jobs Board
- Join the #MDTechCommunity Slack Channel
- Already a member of the slack group? (mdtechcommunity.slack.com)
- LinkedIn Page.
- Linkedin Group.
- Twitter.
