Did your hear that £900 million was allocated to funding groundbreaking new AI research during yesterday’s Budget announcement?
As Jeremy Hunt outlined his first Budget as Chancellor of the Exchequer, and the first Budget of 2023, to MPs in the House of Commons yesterday, he revealed that the UK will launch a so-called “AI sandbox”, which will aim to encourage groundbreaking research into artificial intelligence as part of the early stages of the UK government‘s new Quantum Strategy.
The new £2.5 billion 10-year quantum research and innovation programme is said to show the government’s ambition for the country to become a “science and technology superpower”.
This means that by 2033, with the help of the £900 million funding, the UK is expected to become one of only a handful of countries across the globe to he home to an exascale computer – which is significantly more powerful than a conventional computer, and allows quantum physics to store data and perform calculations that are both key to AI.
On top of this, the Chancellor also revealed in his Budget that millions of pounds in prize money will be up for grabs every year over the next decade – and that prize, just so happens, to be named after Manchester.
The annual £1 million prize is to be named ‘The Manchester Prize’.
The original ‘Manchester Baby’ completed its first successful run on 21 June 1948 / Credit: University of Manchester
Obviously, us Mancs know that our city is a special one, and we’ve gifted the world so many important things over the years, but why exactly is a new AI research funding prize to be named in Manchester’s honour? Well, it’s all because Manchester has earned its place in computing history and continues to be a pioneer in computer science today.
In case you didn’t know, on 21 June 1948, the world’s-first stored program computer – named the Manchester Small-Scale Experimental Machine, and later nicknamed the ‘Manchester Baby’ – completed its first successful run at the University of Manchester (UoM), taking just 52 minutes and running through 3.5 million calculations before it got to the correct answer.
And it’s safe to say, this went on the change the world.
“75 years on, the Baby has grown up, so I will call this new national AI award the Manchester Prize in its honour,” Mr Hunt announced in his Budget speech yesterday.
The ‘Manchester Baby’ replica at the Science and Industry Museum / Credit: Science Museum Group
The original ‘Manchester Baby’ computer was built using technology developed for World War II radar and communications equipment, and sadly no longer exists – but the Science and Industry Museum in the heart of the city centre is home to a full-scale replica that was built in 1998 with the guidance of the original designers using 1940s vintage parts.
The replica was built to mark the 50th anniversary of the groundbreaking invention, and attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors to the museum to see it every year – with a talented team of volunteers regularly running programs on it live in the gallery.
It really does demonstrate just how far computing has come since 1948.
To this day, the ‘Manchester Baby’ still proves to be the basic blueprint used in billions of computers, and the scientists and engineers that call Manchester home continue put the city at the forefront of a global technological revolution.
Artificial intelligence research has also gone from strength to strength at UoM since then, and today, teams of scientists, professors, and experts at the University working work on fundamental AI, robotics and autonomous systems, advanced manufacturing systems, and neuroscience daily.
So, is it really any wonder why the new £1 million annual AI funding prize has been named after Manchester? We certainly can’t think of a better city for its namesake.
You can find out more about visiting the ‘Manchester Baby’ replica on the Science and Industry Museum website here.
The museum also has a packed programme of events happening this Spring to occupy the kids during the school holidays, including a massive “gaming extravaganza” and the chance to check out the popular immersive Power UP exhibition, and you can find out more and grab tickets here.
Rochdale has been named Greater Manchester’s ‘Town of Culture’ for 2025
Emily Sergeant
Rochdale has officially been named Greater Manchester’s Town of Culture for 2025.
Taking over the reins from Bolton – which held the title in 2024 – and following in the footsteps of Stockport before that, which held the title in 2023, and even hosted a massive ‘Town of Culture Weekender’ festival with 50+ free events to celebrate and bring its title year to a close, it’s now the turn of the north-eastern Greater Manchester borough of Rochdale.
Rochdale’s year will build on the town’s already-rich cultural history and international reputation as the home of the co-operative movement.
More than 35 arts organisations will be bringing together an ambitious programme of festivals, exhibitions, events, and performances throughout the year.
Unfamiliar with what the ‘Greater Manchester Town of Culture’ title is all about? It’s an accolade that’s handed out every year to different boroughs across the region.
Bury was the inaugural title-holder 2020 and held onto it in 2021 too due to the COVID pandemic, before being followed by Stalybridge in 2022, Stockport in 2023, and of course, Bolton in the year just gone.
The title celebrates Greater Manchester’s culture and heritage.
As well as getting a new title to shout about, it also sees the towns given a grant from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) culture fund to help develop a programme of cultural events and activities throughout the year.
Rochdale has been named Greater Manchester’s ‘Town of Culture’ for 2025 / Credit: The Manc Group | Rochdale Council
In Rochdale’s case, you can expect the ‘very best local talent’, as this year is promising to put ‘people power’ centre stage, with residents helping to plan, develop, and deliver a lineup of creative activities, alongside a number of major events.
This includes the popular free days out for families, an exciting new urban arts festival, two different food and drink festivals, a lantern parade, the Ignite Fire Festival, a Pride parade, and so much more.
You can also expect live music performances, a new people’s gallery, and even some major international collaborations that are yet to be announced.
Rochdale is taking over the reins from Bolton, which held the title in 2024 / Credit: Rochdale Council
“Rochdale is a place with a rich cultural history, so it is great to name it Greater Manchester’s town of culture as it’s town hall and town centre enter a new era,” commented Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham as the borough was crowned this week.
“Rochdale submitted a fantastic bid for this which, was incredibly exciting and ambitious, while being firmly rooted in its local talent and deep history.
“We are definitely going to see the very best of what Rochdale has to offer over the next 12 months and people will come from far and wide to see it.”
Featured Image – Rochdale Council
News
The Lowry Theatre undergoes revamp following Biffa Award grant
Danny Jones
The Lowry in Salford Quays has had a bit of TLC with one of its biggest theatre spaces undergoing a pretty significant refurb this past month.
Following a well-deserved grant distributed via the Biffa Award, a multi-million-pound fund that helps to build communities and transform lives through community and environmental projects across the UK, the legendary local theatre received nearly £75k last year.
As a result, all 440 seats and various other aspects of The Lowry‘s Quays Theatre have now been renovated and refurbished.
The short story is, she looks more gorgeous than ever – see for yourself:
Being initially handed over in March 2024, The Lowry was awarded a total of £74,816 to reupholster seating in the venue’s Quays Theatre with new padding and fabric.
After almost 25 years of constant use as one of the most popular theatres in the North, the seats in the Quays Theatre were much in need of a refurb, and with work completed in December, Lowry visitors can now enjoy watching the venue’s wide range of theatre, dance, comedy and drama in comfort.
The work was actually carried out between July and December, with seats being carefully removed in batches and reupholstered off-site.
This was made possible due to the Biffa Award’s most recent ‘Cultural Facilities’ theme, which aims to improve recreation, interest and education, drawing funds from the UK government’s wider Landfill Communities Fund.
The old fabric and padding were disposed of sustainably, with lots of it being repurposed where possible to minimise waste and all the new materials used meet current guidance for safety and quality.
The Lowry’s Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Development, Gwen Oakden, said of the long overdue update:“It is so important that our audiences are able to enjoy our world-class performing arts programme in a comfortable and welcoming space.
“For many visitors to the Quays Theatre, this is their first experience of live performance – often to see a family show or as part of a school trip. We really want it to be the best experience possible, and for them to begin a lifelong relationship with Lowry.
“As a registered charity, without the generous support of this Biffa Award, for which we’re hugely grateful, we couldn’t have carried out this important work for our audiences.
As we head into our 25th Anniversary year, we are delighted to be able to welcome audiences and visitors can enjoy the beautiful and revived Quays Theatre.”
As for the Biffa side of things, Grants Manager Rachel Maidment added: “We are delighted to have supported The Lowry in refurbishing the Quays Theatre seating, ensuring audiences can continue to enjoy performances in comfort.
“Through Biffa’s Cultural Facilities theme, we fund projects that provide engaging and inspiring spaces for communities. The Lowry is a key cultural venue, and we’re proud that our funding, made possible through the government Fund, has helped enhance the experience for visitors for years to come.”
Like most Mancs, we love The Lowry, so here’s to hosting countless more theatregoers in the most comfortable seats possible for generations to come.
We’ve been to some brilliant performances around here of late.
Emily Sergeant -
16th March 2023 
