Digital strategy on a page

Sub goals:

• Laying the foundation for success
• Building our capabilities in new technologies
• Lifting our ambition on digital growth

We are supporting the achievement of our goals by delivering this initial set of capabilities in four critical areas:

Connected District

100% Gigabit Capable Connectivity: A programme to deliver 100% Full Fibre gigabit capable connectivity across the whole district including a barrier-busting programme with mobile operators to accelerate 5G rollout.

Fixed Wireless Access Rural Programme (FWA): providing gigabit coverage to poorly served rural district communities and businesses.

Smart Place Infrastructure: Build on our LoRaWAN and 34 Gateway network across the district providing the foundation for smart city application growth. Use cases will be developed in conjunction with citizens to deliver value to our citizen’s priorities.

Digital Work Plan to support UK City of Culture (CoC) 2025. A digital plan to support CoC and the increased requirement for connectivity for the cultural celebration of Bradford.

Data-driven decision making

Data Analytics Platform: Building on investments already made to create an analytics platform to drive “whole- systems” approach to services.

Digital Twin Modelling – Virtual Bradford – a 3D model of the city centre already established with further investment in its development across the city to support the planning of Bradford’s new development frameworks and its clean growth objectives.

Globally recognised as a Centre for Citizen and Data Science: A plan to build on our world class programmes such as Born in Bradford, and to optimise the opportunities for growth from Data Science, skills development and innovation.

Digital Economy

Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Support: Enhanced programmes of support for innovative start-ups and scale-ups.

Targeted Investment – creating better intelligence and marketing collateral to promote Bradford’s strengths as a hub for Data Science, Skills & AI Innovation. Look to secure inward investment and target foreign direct investment (FDI) opportunities. Looking to secure investment.

Regional Digital Skills Plan: in place including Digital Skills Partnership Programme, CTE Partnership Boards, Digital Makers initiative, and working with industry and academia to identify and close gaps in digital skills.

Circular / Green Economy: Targeted support to this sector including supply chains; Complete Green Economy audit as part of our Clean Growth Strategy.

Digital Inclusion

Framework for Delivery – a comprehensive approach with a new local stakeholder governance framework and investment in dedicated resources.

Champions Network and Community Programmes –a digital champions community network established. Baseline of current activity documented and now creating a prioritised Community Programme to address where need is most urgent.

Subsidy Schemes for Connectivity and Skills – a programme of support to access various schemes and benefit from the social value obtained from our network procurement.

AI for Bradford

AI Innovation Partnership: Working together in a public-private-academic partnership across Bradford District to drive economic growth and improve competitiveness and innovation for Bradford businesses.

Measures of Success by 2027

1. Whole district coverage of affordable gigabit capable connectivity
2. All our citizens have the skills to success
3. Economy growth faster than UK average
4. Established at least 10 start-ups or scale-ups through Innovation Partnership
5. Moved from promising IoT tech pilots to delivering real world citizen value at scale in at least 10 key use cases
6. Bradford recognised as a global centre for research, attracting significant inward investment

Key budget highlights (initial)

• £100m+ investment in digital connectivity
• £2.5m investment in smart city platform capability
• £5m 5-year capital programme

Relevant strategies and plans

• District Plan
• Council Plan
• Economic Strategy
• Economic Recovery Plan