Largest digital and tech skills festival returns to Manchester to showcase careers

The North’s longest running and largest festival of skills and talent for the digital and tech industry has announced it will be taking place from February 6-10 in Manchester city centre. 

Taking place to coincide with National Apprentice Week, the week-long Digital Skills Festival brings together the North’s largest tech employers, as well as information from apprenticeship providers, to showcase the wealth of career opportunities for young people and career changers in the tech industry. 

Schools and colleges from across the North have been invited to find out more about careers in the tech and digital industry. 

The Digital Skills Festival has been run by trade body and tech apprenticeship provider Manchester Digital for more than a decade and comprises professional sessions, keynote speakers, workshops and industry insight sessions. 

Manchester City Council has been confirmed as the strategic partner for the event, and Auto Trader returns as headline sponsor. The education partner for 2022 is University of Salford. 

Other sponsors and Talent Day stands include Atkins; GlobalLogic UK&I, BAE Systems Digital Intelligence, Zuhlke, hackajob, Bentley and Bruntwood SciTech. 

Katie Gallagher, managing director of Manchester Digital, said:

“Our 2023 Skills Festival will showcase the region’s digital and tech sector at its best to young people looking into different career pathways. 

“The festival brings together the tech and digital industry, with the education sector and job seekers to work towards solving the ongoing talent shortage. 

“Despite the economic turmoil, the sector is still thriving. A recent study found that 28% of all jobs advertised in Manchester were for the tech sector. And on top of this, the average tech salary is 50% higher than the average salary for other jobs, making it a hugely attractive industry for young people and career changers.”

Emma Grant, head of talent and skills at Manchester Digital said:

“Our Apprenticeship Day is always a hugely informative day for anyone wanting to find out more about apprenticeship pathways into the tech industry. Apprenticeship pathways enable people from diverse backgrounds to access a rewarding job in the tech industry without the need for a university degree.”

Students and job seekers of all ages are invited to the flagship Talent Day on Wednesday, February 8, which will see job opportunities for a variety of roles including software engineering, data, cyber-security, UX, design, business analyst, project management and much more. 

Schools and colleges have been invited to sessions on Industry Insight Days on Thursday, February 9 & Friday, February 10 to learn and develop new skills across a range of topics in the digital sector as well as valuable career insights.

Conference Day (Monday, February 6) will see the launch of the annual Digital Skills Audit, as well as keynote speakers on the latest industry issues such as the current economy and rising inflation, skills shortages and the lasting impact of the Covid pandemic. 

The five day event, will take place at venues across Manchester city centre, as well as online sessions, from February 6-10, 2023, with more speakers and professional sessions to be announced over the next month.