Award win for Greater Manchester digital exclusion tool

A tool used to help local authorities in Greater Manchester understand the extent of digital exclusion locally has been recognised at the Royal Geographical Society Awards.

Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s (GMCA) Digital Exclusion Risk Index (DERI) tool was named joint overall winners at the Geography in Government Awards in May.

The DERI tool was developed as part of the GMCA’s Digital Inclusion Agenda, to benefit local authorities in providing detailed insight into where digital inclusion initiatives are needed most. Its creation was prompted by the rapid shift to online services brought about by the pandemic which highlighted local challenges faced by communities of digital exclusion.

GMCA representatives previously attended the Geography in Government Awards on Wednesday 25th May and came away with two awards, overall winners as well as the award for Advancing Policy Development for the DERI tool which was launched last year. 

Cllr Bev Craig, GMCA Lead for Education, Skills, Work, Apprenticeships and Digital said:

“The Digital Exclusion Risk Index tool (DERI) is nationally significant in how we understand levels of digital exclusion and inequalities and those areas at particular risk of exclusion so that we can work together to tackle this issue and support our residents across Greater Manchester to get online.

“It is wonderful to see the DERI Tool recognised nationally, especially at the prestigious Royal Geographical Society Awards. I would like to pass on my congratulations to everyone involved in this excellent work helping us to progress in our ambitions to fix the digital divide across Greater Manchester.”