Digital Carlisle first held an engagement event at Carlisle College in 2012. Since then a Digital Carlisle group was established and has been successful in delivering its initial agenda of enhancing the digital connectivity of Carlisle District. It is a partnership of local stakeholders and it has made positive steps in progressing Carlisle's digital development with the successful installation of free City Centre Wi-Fi and support for the continuing roll out of Connecting Cumbria as well as a number of local projects. It is now looking to the future and considering next steps.
On the 14th July 2016 a Digital Breakfast, Google Garage event and Digital Carlisle Workshop were held. The aim of the day was to:
- Showcase positive work and Digital Champions within the area.
- Provide examples of how to increase your digital visibility and presence, utilising online tools.
- Engage with partners to seek commitment for the delivery of key actions and projects, building a shared vision for digital development for the District.
- Facilitate a stakeholder Workshop with original Digital Carlisle group attending plus wider targeted invites to begin the process of identifying what should be next for Digital Carlisle and how the digital sector and digital economy can be supported and develop Carlisle as a smart city.
The notes from the workshop are available to view and the development of future steps for Digital Carlisle is therefore on going and at an early stage. Further sessions will be held to establish the desired future approach to digital development by key stakeholders operating in the District. In the meantime, support will be given to partners who are progressing this agenda, including Carlisle Library through their work with Google Digital Garage.