About us

The Manchester Digital Development Agency - MDDA - is based in Manchester, UK. We work with a wide range of local, national and international partners from the government, academic, business and community sectors. Our role is to support the regeneration of the city-region through the strategic and practical work of our technology-focused projects.

We are part of Manchester City Council located within the Regeneration Division of the Chief Executive’s Department, and work with partners from the whole of Greater Manchester metropolitan area. Manchester City Council acts as the lead authority for this work on behalf of all ten of the Greater Manchester districts, which are members of the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA).

Digital Strategy

It is our responsibility to develop and implement the Digital Strategy for the Manchester city-region. The latest version of the Strategy was approved by Manchester City Council’s Executive Committee on 12 March 2008.

The Strategy aims to create a ‘digital masterplan’ for the city. This plan will be used to guide future investment and bring together industry, research bodies and community representatives to develop new ideas for services that will benefit residents, local business and the wider community.

One of the key aims for the Strategy is to put in place super-fast broadband across Manchester. We aim to do this by creating a new ‘open access’ network, putting in place fibre to the premises connections, advanced wireless and a new internet ‘Hub’ exchange.

By creating this next generation connectivity, we aim to link key employment sites across the Manchester city region to accelerate job growth, enhance the digital skill base and provide new opportunities for home access, flexible working and telecare services.

This would also act as a unique proof of concept for the Manchester “Living Labs” initiative, which MDDA is working on as part of the Digital Challenge 10 (DC10) network.

‘Hands-on’ work

The Digital Strategy guides our ‘hands-on’ project work, much of which is focused on how local organisations and businesses can use web-based technologies to become more effective and sustainable.

For example, the AmbITion project is working with arts organisation nationally to make digital development key to their business, organisational and artistic growth and sustainability.

Our new green technology projects, including Pepesec and the DEHEMS (Digital Home Energy Management System) project, aim to provide practical advice and case studies on how technology can be used to make homes and premises more energy efficient.

We are currently carrying out ‘train the trainer’ style workshops with local library staff in and around Manchester to raise their awareness of web tools like Flickr, del.icio.us and Google Apps. The aim is for library staff to then have the skills and knowledge to show library users how to take advantage of these tools.

Supporting the digital business sector

We also play a key role supporting the development and growth of digital businesses in the city.

We are the secretariat for Manchester Digital, the trade association for new media and ICT businesses in Northwest UK, and provide mentoring and support to digital businesses through our project-based work.

We support The Big Chip Awards, the top awards for ICT and new media outside London. Watch the video of the 2008 awards.

We also support a range of user groups across the city, such as GeekUp, North West Ruby User Group, Drupal North West UK User Group, Manchester.NET User Group and the Manchester Free Software Group.

What can we do for you?

MDDA is available to assist a wide range of organisations and groups in the Greater Manchester area to access the benefits of information technology. If we can’t help you directly, it’s pretty certain that we know someone who can! Get in touch with us to find out how we can help.

Meeting rooms

We have modern, flexible and accessible meeting rooms available for hire for groups of up to sixty delegates. Consisting of four individual contemporary styled suites, the spaces have full disabled access, air conditioning and high speed wireless internet access throughout.

Find out more

If you would like to contact us, please ring +44(0)161 255 8111 or use our contact form. Our fax number is +44(0)161 236 2849.