DIGITAL LANCASHIREMANIFESTO

Our manifesto is steered by the members that we serve. If you feel something is missing, let us know

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Digital Lancashire is a not-for-profit membership organisation. This manifesto maps our ambitions, intentions and activities.

LET US HEAR YOUR VOICE

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A WORD FROM OUR CHAIR

“OUR DIGITAL ECONOMY IS WORLD CLASS”

We connect people and help them forge partnerships and collaborations they might otherwise never make, so they can tackle bigger, more ambitious, more rewarding projects together. We know the value of working together - our very genesis was borne from a small handful of agencies from the region who acknowledged the imperative of digital and the vital impact it had on our local economy, during a time when support for the sector itself seemed fairly restricted. It was from this want to support each other that Digital Lancashire was created.

Between our staff and our volunteer-led board, we’ve achieved amazing things over the last 5 years - from Lancashire pioneering the UK’s first Digital Skills Partnership through to being key players in ensuring Lancashire’s emerging digital hubs, such as Fraser House in Lancaster and Strawberry Fields Digital Hub in Chorley, were realised and developed, while establishing ourselves as Lancashire County Council’s digital sector expert.

That’s just a little taste of what we’ve done. So what now and what next? Like everyone, we had plans but then, 2020. I recognise the hardship and devastation the pandemic has cast, though I’m also mindful that it has accelerated digital transformation by years, fast-tracking digital innovation across all sectors, demanding that digital is a priority on everyone’s agenda.

We have always known that Lancashire’s digital community is up there with the best - our digital economy is world-class, and my hope is that this Manifesto gives you a clear picture of how we’re going to make sure that the people, places, businesses and brains get the support and recognition they deserve. It answers that question:‘what is it you do? Welcome to the Digital Lancashire.

At Digital Lancashire, we’re often asked, ‘what is it you do?’ We’re a not-for-profit membership organisation, though we’re so much more. The truth is, we undertake an incredible amount of work to shine a light on Lancashire’s digital sector while working equally as hard to provide opportunities for the individuals and organisations working within it.

ANINTRODUCtION

Digital Lancashire was established to address the following key issues:

To promote digital activities to transform knowledge, skills and innovation into economic value in Lancashire and directly centralise a coordinated approach of digital activities.

To address the drain of talent out of Lancashire and thus a loss of skills.

To support, enhance, improve and audit the digital capabilities and development activities of Local Government, Local Enterprise Partnerships and Local Digital Skills Parntnerships and educational institutions for all ages, levels and backgrounds.

Our actions and output are guided by these fundamental principles:

Remaining Relevant: it is vital that we identify and focus on the most relevant aspects of digital, where the investment in time and resource provides the best return and we must always manage an optimal path of activity.

Upholding Integrity: dialogue and engagement are core activities of Digital Lancashire and we will always apply some careful selective response and measured responses, to ensure we always deliver and that we manage expectations.

Demonstrate Credibility: we are measured by our achievements and responsiveness according to a mutually agreed SLA with Lancashire County Council and it is critical that we provide clear planning and logical methodology to all activities, within every engagement we undertake.

Provide Value: Digital Lancashire consists of several clusters within its members whose purpose is to drive forward Lancashire’s economic development, and help deliver the Greater Lancashire Strategy’s ambition to address GVA growth differential and for Lancashire to become a net contributor to the national economy.

The digital sector in lancashire is valued at

£1.02b

See the latest of what digital lancashire is doing online

News, events, opportunities, jobs, cluster updates and more can be found at www.digital-lancashire.org.uk

The Digital Lancashire Board delivers the most topical, relevant, innovative and inspiring dialogue either through its multiple communications programme or in person within the context of many digital meetings, networks and events in Lancashire.

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Top level strategic alliances and collaboration where genuine investment in money, time, knowledge and business introductions are facilitated.

1 2 3Continuity and the importance of ongoing progressive programmes of activity should underline every Digital Lancashire activity, to develop firm platforms and facilitate ongoing economic development.

The ability to engage with different key stakeholders in Lancashire and connect groups and individuals at a strategic or practical level, is a vital process.

Digital Lancashire is very well situated with its mix of Board Members, their significant individual networks, and the research and knowledge they bring to the table for Digital Lancashire.

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?

This drives to the core of Lancashire’s needs and challenges; to progress and develop digital capital in a sustained and continuous path without the duplication of funds, resources and valuable time.

There is the need to recognise shared agendas and potential overlap of funding and resource and streamline these.

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MANiFeSTO AIMS & AMBITIONS

“There is the need to recognise shared agendas and potential overlap of funding and resource and streamline these.”

This manifesto aims to map a logical development path for Digital Lancashire, to identify and achieve realistic goals in a measured and managed approach, ensuring the growth of Digital Lancashire and its membership follows a safe and confident direction whilst understanding the landscape in which it operates.

Voluptus quidebi ssimusa ndelent

The levels of strategic activity in which Digital Lancashire operates:

Developing and supporting emerging clusters with a Digital Lancashire Toolkit to empower clusters to establish activity and to embed them in the Digital Lancashire network. In doing so, we’re providing high value and maintaining our high standards.

To promote the Digital Lancadhire brand (and wider county brand) in a way that remains true to our core values oulined in the Digital Lancashire Charter, allowing collaborations to flourish.

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THE DIGITAL LANCASHIREMANiFESTO

Engage & SupportIn adopting a proactive approach Digital Lancashire will implement a programme of engagement and close collaboration with all of its strategic partners, sharing agendas, streamlining resources and managing key priorities in countywide initiatives. We proactively support the Northern Powerhouse, DiT, Lancashire County Council, and Lancashire County Developments (Investments) Limited (LCDL). Furthermore, Digital Lancashire will promote a range of business support, finance and skills programmes, linking BOOST and Tech Nation while supporting the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership (LEP) with its innovation, sector development and collaboration with Universities.

Influence & Guide CollaborationTo influence and guide collaboration and willingness between digitally focused organisations of all size and scale, and significantly raise the visibility of Lancashire’s successes on a local, national and international stage.

Showcase Our CountyWe will implement a sustained series of campaigns in Lancashire to reach wider national audiences and the Government, to provide high impact case studies and examples of digital success in Lancashire.

Strategic RelationshipsWe will forge and develop strong strategic relationships with key stakeholders, at regional and national level. This will include bolstering our relationships with existing partners to ensure we fulfil and satisfy wider areas of our manifesto.

Grow Our MembershipWe will develop a much larger body of support including groups and organisations who can engage and contribute to our activities and events in a variety of different approaches and formats. In doing so, we aim to double our membership.

Technical HubsDigital Lancashire will create active physical hubs across key towns and cities, populated and frequented by enthusiastic and contributing groups of digital professionals. We will provide consultation, support initiatives and lobby for new technical hubs and hotspots across every Lancashire village, town and city. These locations are digital centres where easy access and a culture of collaboration is evident and exchange of knowledge and best practice is available.

Research & Academia We will continue to work closely with all of the main universities and colleges in Lancashire as coherent groups and endeavour to facilitate research and innovation. We also recognise and promote the multiple programmes aimed at both student pathways into the digital sector, and key information and research for startups and SME who are ambitious to grow and develop.

Expertise & KnowledgeWe will develop a high quality bank of digital expertise and knowledge, wherever possible applying that expertise to facilitate and expedite digital progress.

Advice & GuidanceWe provide advice and guidance to organisations who require the input of digital experts. We do this at a regional level to inform strategy and we do this from an organisational level to extol the benefits of digital in the workplace.

How We Define Digital

The government defines the digital economy as “all jobs in the digital sector, as well as all those working in Digital Occupations in non-digital sectors.” However, there is not an internationally accepted definition of the digital economy.

For some, digital is about how software and computer hardware simplify our lives. For others, it’s easier to think about the contrast of what it’s not: digital versus analogue, screen versus paper, streaming versus vinyl.

For us, digital encompasses a process of change and improvement, using software, applications and the platforms that run them. Digital is its own vertical and is a significant agent of change across all other sectors.

Digital is everywhere, and in Lancashire, we have incredible people doing incredible things with it.

Where tobegin?

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Supporting TransformationWe identify and engage any organisations and individuals who need guidance, training and support in growing and transforming their digital capabilities by helping to identify whether they are using their using time, resource and finance effectively.

Business SupportWe endeavour to create clarity for members in key business support areas, such as training, finance, marketing and strategic decision making. An important aspect of this is to coordinate communications and avoid overload of information, which can often prevent progress.

Research, Polls & PublicationsWe research the digital community, providing data, benchmarks and detailed landscapes of Lancashire’s talent and hotspots of key digital skills. On identification of these hotspots we encourage and try to influence development and growth, whilst shining a spotlight on these areas for external emphasis. We measure that growth and development and publish our findings.

Showcase ProgrammeDigital Lancashire aims to proactively publicise great digital achievements by showcasing products, services, content, initiatives, educational pathways and ‘champions’ of digital in Lancashire.

Space to ShineFurther utilise the physical space and skills that need invigorating and preparing for readiness, through identifying what, where and who these are, and driving them on to levels of excellence.

Digital Festival & AwardsWe have an ambition to develop and deliver a Digital Festival and a Digital Awards event before Spring 2022.

DigitalPreston

How We Define Collaboration

Collaboration involves working alongside other people to constructively explore ideas, discover new solutions and explore unique thought processes. Ultimately, the end-goal of collaboration is to accomplish something as a team or group – whether it’s completing a project or working together on a customer problem.

Key sectors such as Technical, FinTech, Logistics, Manufacturing all have individual requirements, individual baselines from the digital point of view and will need unique development pathways mapped to allow management and progress.

We collaborate with key partners in areas including:

• Skills and education • Women in Tech • Cyber organisations and technology • Digital festival and digital summits • Arts and communities • Coding and data • Charities

Collaboration involves working alongside other people

DIGITAL LANCASHIREClusters

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There are 2,480 digital businesses in Lancashire, accounting for 5% of the business base

The digital sector is a priority sector for Lancashire due to its significant projected growth. Pre-COVID forecasts for the Lancashire economy indicate that employment in the information and communications sector is expected to grow nearly three times faster than the economy as a whole in the ten years to 2028.

Just as importantly, digital technologies will have a role in driving the growth and competitiveness of other sectors e.g. advanced manufacturing, creative industries, retail, transport and financial services.

The highest numbers of digital sector businesses reside in Preston, Chorley and South Ribble (840 businesses, 6.3% of businesses in that area) and in Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde (705 businesses, 6.2% of businesses).

Lancaster and Morecambe has the lowest number of Digital businesses (230, 5% of businesses), but has a higher proportion of digital businesses compared to Blackburn with Darwen, Hyndburn, Ribble Valley and Rossendale which has 560 digital businesses, representing 4.2% of the whole business base.

which is 3% of all the employees in

Lancashire, reflecting the high proportion

of micro-businesses with less than ten

employees (95%).

in Lancashire is forecast to grow by 8%

by 2028 which is an additional 1,800

employees.

PROFILING THE

LANCASHIRE’S THRIVING

DIGITAL SECTOR

DIGITAL AND TECHNICAL HUBS

IN LANCASHIRE

18,775 employees in the digital sector

Employment in the digital sector

BURNLEY

The Landmark’s experts and collaborators will offer business users opportunities to deepen their digital knowl-edge and skills, in comfort-able, inspiring surroundings.

CHORLEY

The Strawberry Fields Digital Hub is an extremely exciting project that will definitely help to boost the digital sector in Lancashire. More spaces like this, with a focus on collaborative digital working, would be excellent.

LANCASTER

There is already a growing digital sector in Lancaster and surrounding areas, so the renovation of Fraser House (due for completion early 2021) will provide a high-quality base for these companies

PRESTON

Society1 invests in a Gigabyte Lease Line, providing fast and reliable internet to its members and users of their coworking space, in the heart of Preston, which has a growing creative and digital business community.

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THE DIGITAL LANCASHIRE TEAM

TOM STABLESCHAIR

JEREMY COATESVICE CHAIR & SKILLS LEAD

LIZ HARDWICKWOMEN IN TECH LEAD

A founding director of Digital Lancashire, Tom is the Creative Director of brand gowth agency, 3manfactory. As Chair, Tom provides strategic leadership within the organisation, bringing expertise in design, branding and marketing and also sits on the Creative Lancashire board.

A founding director of Digital Lancashire, Jeremy sits on several key skills and educational groups in Lancashire as well as advising organisations and businesses how to embrace, develop and create real value from digital. Jeremy founded and runs Magma Digital a software company providing critical software solutions.

Liz is an award winning speaker, trainer and co-founder of DigiEnable, supporting clients across the UK and beyond, with bespoke digital training and search marketing services. Liz also supports non-profit organisations, including Chairing the National Women’s Committee and is part of the Executive board for BECTU.

RUTH HERITAGEPROGRAMME LEAD

DUNCAN SANDFORDMANAGING DIRECTOR

ADAM DAVIESPRESTON LEAD

JO DOOTSONEVENT AND MARKETING EXECUTIVE

EMMA-LOUISE GIBSONMEMBERSHIP LEAD

Ruth is responsible for The People’s Production Lab, (Preston) a community owned production, research & development facility in the centre of Preston. Ruth also has influential National Policy involvement advising government and other national organisations on Culture and the Arts.

Duncan leads the Digital Lancashire team and brings to the fore a depth of expertise and knowledge that pushes the digital agenda in the region. Experience of founding and running own digital and data agencies for 17 years, 10 years of Blue Chip marketing knowledge with experience of venture capital, investors and private and public sector business models.

Founding Digital Lancashire Director, Adam worked as a digital contractor for the NHS, Disney, Nike, Slazenger and similar brands before establish soap Media, a family run business . Adam has experise in inbound marketing particularly customer journey and intent resolution.

Jo is responsible for overseeing the events and marketing activities at Digital Lancashire and engaging with members, businesses and strategic partners to gain insight about Lancashire’s key digital initiatives. Jo has extensive cross-sector experience encompassing marketing, fundraising, management, event management and recruitment.

Emma covers the Fylde/Blackpool cluster for Digital ancashire and as an experienced Strategic marketing consultant runs her own consultancy to clients throughout the Northwest. Emma has worked for a varied client base and also includes customer service aspects within her consultancy services.

The Board contributes through marketing and promotional campaigns, providing attendance at various economic and skills boards and events and panels, offering consultation and advice on every aspect of digital.