Open Data Manchester: Who we are

Open Data Manchester is a not-for-profit that was formed in 2010 from a diverse group of open data advocates, supporting people, communities and organisations to understand and use data that is about them and their communities.

Whether working in partnership or on standalone programmes, we promote good data practice through expert advice, strong advocacy, participatory events, state-of-the-art research, technical support and interactive training.

Profits from our commercial work go into furthering the aims of the organisation through working with communities. We host events and create resources designed to help more people understand data, how it affects their lives and how they can use it for positive change.

Our vision

Is for data and digital systems that enhance the lives of all.

By demystifying its use, promoting openness and transparency, and supporting people who want to use it wisely, we believe we can bring about a fairer society – where everyone benefits from better decision-making, better products and better services.

Our mission

To promote responsible data practices that focus on the needs of all and ensure that data is used in ways that help people, our planet and prosperity.

Wherever we work, we promote responsible and intelligent data practice supported by research and evidence, and focused on need. We convene an increasingly expert international community recognised for its efforts to make sure that data brings benefit to all.

Our story

Open Data Manchester was set up as part of FutureEverything’s Open Data Cities programme to bring people together who were interested in using open data to improve their community.

That same year, with growing demand from these technologists, artists, public officials and provocateurs, Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (now TfGM) became the UK’s first transport authority to release its bus scheduling information as open data.

In 2011, DataGM – The Greater Manchester Public DataStore launched to bring together and open up health, transport and other local service data from across the region.

This is seen as the start of Greater Manchester’s open data journey and Open Data Manchester is now one of the longest-standing communities of its kind in Europe.

In November 2017, Open Data Manchester became formally constituted as a not-for-profit community interest company, and is now welcoming contributors, partners and supporters from around the world.

You can find out more about who we are, what we are trying to do and how we are going to get there in our strategy, which can be found here.

Our impact

Open Data Manchester is part of a global community that influences and engages people around good data practice.

Through this network, we promote intelligent and responsible data practice developed in Greater Manchester at international conferences and festivals.

Our work has helped shape practice at a local, national and international level, and we make it openly available so it can be shared and built on, ensuring lasting benefit to society.

See more of our work.

Find out more

What we do

Learn more about what we do at Open Data Manchester.

Impact

Find out more about the impact of our work.

Team

Meet the team behind Open Data Manchester.

Who we are