In this episode, Sherelle Fairweather, Digital Strategy Lead at Manchester City Council, UK, and Minu Tegethoff, Senior Expert Digital Services & Technologies at Drees & Sommer, unpack how Manchester is moving from digital strategy to delivery. They outline the city’s four pillars (people & inclusion, “what’s in the ground” connectivity, tech for good, and sustainability & resilience) then explain how a recent digital maturity assessment shifted focus from glossy plans to building a deployable network. You’ll hear why aligning definitions across departments matters, why governance, ownership and budgets are the real unblockers, and how a small advisory “front door” can speed fit-for-purpose projects. They also dig into data stewardship and discovery as the backbone for impact, the often-overlooked risk of operations and maintenance, and partnership models that help cities learn beyond pilots.   Like our show? Remember to subscribe and rate it! Want to join us for an episode? Fill out the form on our Podcast Page. And for more insights, visit our BABLE Smart Cities Knowledge Hub