Show up, join in, get noticed
By Kate Wilson, Head of Community & Membership at Manchester Digital
I find myself saying this all the time on member calls – if you want to get real value from your Manchester Digital membership, the best thing you can do is simple: show up.
I love events – and if you regularly catch up with me on member calls, I often liken them to going for a jog. You might think of every reason not to go, but you never regret it once it's over! We aim to serve everyone, so take your pick from our Tech Leader Talks, roundtables, Member Drop-In sessions or our flagship conferences. Just being there opens the door to so many unexpected opportunities. It’s not just about hearing from brilliant speakers (though you will) or meeting new people (you’ll do that too), it’s about becoming part of something. It’s about embedding yourself into the fabric of our brilliant community.
I’ve seen time and time again that the members who attend regularly are the ones who get the most out of their membership. Not just visibility and brand recognition - though that comes, but real relationships, valuable conversations and often the start of something that leads to collaboration, problem-solving or a new way of thinking.
As Will from BD2 said to me on a recent call:
“Manchester Digital's events are consistently valuable. Each event offers something unique – whether it's practical insights we can immediately apply or broader industry knowledge to inform our future strategy. I always leave feeling like I've learned something new or made a meaningful connection. Some events provide direct, actionable takeaways while others offer more strategic perspectives. Ultimately, they're an essential part of staying connected and informed in the tech community… as long as we actually turn up.” (Joke.)
And when you’re at an event, it’s not about shoehorning your product or service into every conversation. In fact, the opposite. The best connections happen when you’re genuinely listening – to someone’s perspective, their experience, their challenge. You might not be able to fix it (you might need a Dev for that!), but maybe you can share something you’ve learned. Maybe you’ve tackled something similar. Maybe, just maybe, you start to chip away at something bigger – together.
That’s where the real value lives. Along the way, trust is built. Partnerships form. Your interaction gets remembered and you usually walk away having learned something too (and had a pretty good time while doing it).
And if you’re ready to raise your profile a little more, there are always opportunities to speak or sponsor – whether it’s showcasing your expertise, shouting about an innovation or aligning your brand with something that matters. Just get in touch and we’ll help you find the right fit.
So if you're reading this and thinking, "We haven't made it to anything in a while," this is your sign. Ta-daa! Check the events page. Pick something. Come along. Talk to us. Talk to others. And then keep that conversation going.
Because being a brilliant member doesn’t mean doing everything. It just means joining in.
Kate 💜
👉 Want to speak, sponsor or just know what events are coming up? Get in touch or visit our events page.
