One of Manchester’s outstanding tech companies has announced it will be supporting the local sector once more during the third national lockdown – offering free spots on some of its acclaimed training courses.
Sync’s Deansgate site – a three-storey tech shop with an Apple desk, training suite and conference centre – has been the city centre’s vital support hub right throughout the pandemic, remaining on hand to keep Digital Mancunia ticking.
Despite the latest lockdown, these webinars aren’t stopping anytime soon. In fact, some are even continuing without the price tag.
As Blue Monday arrives, Sync is aiming to lift the spirits of local business owners and entrepreneurs with an exclusive offer of limited free course placements.
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15 fully-funded spots are up for grabs on Sync’s 3-day foundation course for Adobe XD – which is ordinarily normally priced at £195+VAT.
The training sessions run for two hours per day, offering priceless insight for designers, product managers, developers, or anyone hoping to build brilliant digital products (such as websites and mobile apps).
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Participants will perform a series of examples and short exercises, learning the methods, techniques and tools required to plan and execute a project using the UX framework successfully.
Tom Crump, Head of Sales at Sync, explained the thinking behind the offer.
“With the latest lockdown, we wanted to offer a form of support to businesses by offering fully funded places,” he told The Manc.
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“Once they’ve completed the course, they receive a certificate of completion from Sync.
“If you are a business or employee interested in this training, all you need to do is explain why you think you might benefit from it to access the course.”
To apply, you can get in touch with the Sync team online.
The courses will be taking place from February 2 – February 4.
In addition to the Adobe XD sessions, Sync is also offering skills-based training courses that focus on how to continue working and communicating through lockdown.
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They’re all free to join – and will be conducted every Thursday from January 14 until February 25.
To get involved, you simply need to register your interest online.
Some of the Sync webinar sessions in 2021 cover Microsoft Teams, Photoshop, Illustrator, Spark and InDesign.
January 14 – Master Microsoft Teams What Sync says about the session: Teams has quickly become a core communication and collaboration tool for many businesses. In this session, we will walk you through Microsoft Teams, covering a range of features, tips and tricks – along with a couple of tools to help you enhance and evolve your Teams workflows.
January 21 – Get started with Photoshop What Sync says about the session: In this introductory session, we will introduce delegates to Adobe Photoshop, and walk you through your first Photoshop project. We will cover the basics, including setting your canvas size, working with layers, and some of the key tools like text.
January 28 – Get started with Illustrator What Sync says about the session: New to Illustrator? Not a problem… during this session, we will demonstrate some of the basics, helping to guide you through your first project. You will get to learn how to set up a new project, and how to use some of the key tools and features built-in to Illustrator.
February 4 – Get started with Spark What Sync says about the session: Adobe Spark comprises of three apps, Spark Page, Spark Post, and Spark Video – all allowing you to create content quickly. In this introductory session, we will explore the capabilities of Spark, and walk you through your first Spark project!
February 11 – Get started with InDesign What Sync says about the session: InDesign is an incredibly powerful and industry-leading desktop publishing software, ideal for anyone looking to create stunning print or digital media in the form of fliers, brochures, magazines, books/ebooks or posters. Join us to explore InDesign further, and learn some of the basics.
February 18 – Top Tips: Photoshop What Sync says about the session: Join us as we explore Photoshop, uncovering amazing features, new tools, and top tips from industry expert and Adobe trainer, Alan Rankin. Whether you’re still new to Photoshop, or a seasoned pro, this short session is for you.
February 25 – Top Tips: Illustrator What Sync says about the session: Industry expert and Adobe trainer, Alan Rankin, explores Adobe Illustrator – sharing his top hints and tips for creatives. Illustrator is an incredibly powerful and versatile tool, and in this short session, we will dig beneath the surface to explore some of the more advanced functions.
Tom stated: “This is a way for us to help support Manchester businesses who may have had to furlough staff.
“Sync is passionate about personal development and working with our local community to come out of this next lockdown stronger than ever.”Learn more about the tech courses and training available throughout the lockdown period by visiting the Syncwebsite.
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Great Manchester Run guide for 2026 – route map, waves and start times, travel advice and more
Danny Jones
‘Marathon season’ may be over for some, but not for those taking part in the AJ Bell Great Manchester, which returns this year for its 23rd edition.
The 2026 Great Manchester Run takes place this Sunday, 31 May, and tens of thousands of Mancs and more are set to take on the challenge, be that the fan favourite and super flat 10k, or the equally popular half-marathon.
Whatever distance you’re doing, or even if you’re just turning up to cheer on your mates and loved ones, we’ve put together a list of all the important details ahead of another sell-out event – but places
Here’s everything you need to know…
Great Manchester Run 2026 – all the key info
The GMR course map for 2026
If you’re wondering what the route for this year’s Great Manchester Run is like, it’s largely the same as most other years, no matter which race you’re talking about.
As a brief overview, the 10k course takes you from the start line on Portland Street, towards Old Trafford and the edge of Salford Quays, before heading back into town.
Meanwhile, the half-marathon route covers the same ground, but you also take along the Mancunian Way and over to the Nexen Bridge to Manchester City’s Etihad Campus and then back over the elevated motorway for the two main bits of your elevation.
Best of all, both share that box office finish line on the main Deansgate strip, where you can drink in all the glory; you can see a more in-depth look at both down below.
The 2026 route map, including water stations and toilet stops. (Credit: AJ Bell Great Manchester Run)
What are the Great Manchester run waves and start times?
Now, for those of you who are putting the great in Greater Manchester this year, the first thing on the docket for 2026 is the information point opening bright and early, before elite runners and those with visual impairments start assembling from 7:15am.
After that, the warm-up and subsequent waves (which you’ll find on your tour bib along with your participant number and RFID chips) will set off in staggered intervals until just after half past eight.
For anyone who hasn’t yet received their race pack, you can visit the info point, and your access point to the start line will also be signposted according to your corresponding wave colour.
As for those doing the shorter dash, here’s your breakdown:
10k running order (pun intended)
7:55 – Elite Wheelchair Athletes Start
11:00 – Assembly Opens: Fast Paced, Orange and Green Waves
11:30 – Elite Women Start
11:32 – Warm Up
11:40 – Visually Impaired (VI) Participants Start
11:45 – Elite Men, Fast Paced and Orange Wave Start
12:05 – Green Wave Start
12:25 – Assembly Opens: Purple and Pink Waves
12:40 – Warm Up
12:50 – Purple Wave Starts
13:10 – Pink Wave Starts
AJ Bell’s Junior and Mini children’s races – Great Manchester Run
As always, 2026 will also see the joint junior and mini races for kids, which takes place separately from the main course and hordes of runners on the Sunday.
Getting underway on Saturday, 30 May), mini runners (aged 3-8) race through a 1.6km dash, and junior runners (aged 9-15) will take on a 2.5km challenge.
Supporters are encouraged to come along and experience this joyous spin-off over at the Etihad Campus, with stars from the hit BBC reboot of Gladiators set to join in the party.
If your little ones have speedy feet, keep an eye out for 2027 sign-ups when they go live.
📢 Calling all future running stars!
Super Saturdays are BACK for 2026 🎉🦸
Join the UK’s best kids running series, packed with fundraising, family time and fun at our Junior & Mini events 🙌
Great MCR Run travel advice, diversions and road closures
Now, naturally, when such a huge event with more than 40,000 runners is set to take over the city, not to mention the 100k+ spectators that are expected to line the streets on the day, it’s always going to have an impact on travel.
Those watching on the sidelines are being urged to use public transport wherever possible, with extra trams being put on throughout the day, and various other arms of the Bee Network (who have a full guide ahead of the event) will be there to get people around the event.
If you do end up driving into the region for the action, we would recommend you use one of Greater Manchester’s multiple park and ride sites and then use one of our many Metrolink services to travel into the city centre itself.
You can also use Transport for Greater Manchester’s (TfGM) journey planner online and see a full list of the confirmed road closures down below:
Whitworth Street West: 6.30am – 2.45pm (includes parking restrictions)
It’s also worth noting that there will be a number of bus diversions on the day; you can consult the adjusted timetable HERE.
Event village + other pre- and post-race extras
This year’s event village is based on St Peter’s Square and is open to everyone; it’s set to feature a wide range of activities, charities and exhibitors for everyone to enjoy.
From giveaways and competitions in partnership with the AJ Bell ‘Money Matters’ team, as well as Solgar, Mitchum, Liquid I. V. and SiS energy gels (we’re sure enough of you will be more than familiar after the run is all said and done), there’s a lot of different bits and bobs up for grabs.
We don’t know about you, but we’ll be heading straight to the mobile Lucky Saint bar, which will be serving ice-cold, refreshing, alcohol-free beers – they’re going to hit SO different after a run in the sun.
Credit: Supplied (via Great Manchester Run/Lucky Saint)
Cheer zones and support hubs: best spots to watch the Great Manchester Run
For those of you set to line the streets and provide your much-needed support on race day, there are some key sections where the atmosphere from the crowd will be injected into the runners.
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As well as drummers, local choirs and lots more surprises to keep your energy pumping throughout, there’ll be some big corners to look out for your loved ones.
You can find some of the main supporter hotspots and where they are along the route down below, but we’d personally recommend the roundabout coming heading towards Chester Road, the small grassy mounts and central reservation either side of Cornbrook, and the corner of Deansgate-Castlefield.
Half marathon
St Peter’s Square – for the start line
Manchester Piccadilly – 2-mile marker
Etihad Campus/Velopark – 4/5-mile marker
Wharfside/Imperial War Museum – 10/11-mile marker
Cornbrook – 12-mile marker
Deansgate-Castlefield exchange – for the finish line
10k
St Peter’s Square – for the start line
Cornbrook – 2km marker
Old Trafford – 4km marker
Wharfside/Imperial War Museum – 6km marker
Cornbrook – 9km marker
Deansgate-Castlefield corner – for the finish line
We want this kind of energy all day long, please and thank you:
Every year, we always get to see a fair few celebs and noteworthy names either taking on the 13.1-mile/21.1k dash, be that out on the start line with the rest of you, teaming up with the official BBC presenting team, or simply helping cheer on in their own way.
This one is no different – familiar faces to look out for include: Traitors stars, Reece Ward, Jessie Roux and Jack Butler, Race Across the World winners, Kush Burman and Joe Diop, siblings Katie and Harrison Devine, Caroline Bridge, along with Emon Choudhury, running in memory of the late Sam Gardiner.
Cast members from Waterloo Road will also be there, such as Jason Merrells (Jack Rimmer), Maisie Robinson (Portis Weaver), Tillie Amartey (Stace Neville) and Cory McClane (Ashton Stone); the same goes for Corrie and Emmerdale stars.
Before we wrap this thing up, there’s also the matter of how to track runners on the day as they make their way along the course. The easiest way to do this is by downloading the Great Run app, where you can simply enter runners’ names and race numbers to follow along. You can find it HERE.
Obviously, there are also options such as the FindMy apps and the likes of WhatsApp, where you can share location for several hours throughout the duration of the day.
There is also the dedicated AJ Bell ‘Motivation Station’ along the last stretch of the city centre track, where people can write messages of support for those final metres and yards. Enter yours now.
Last but not least, you can find the official event guide in full on the Great Run website, with all the info above and more, plus plenty of other extras.
Once again, we’d also encourage you all to download the official app, which should help you access all these key details quickly and easily, not to mention have your tracker to hand so you don’t miss the all-important runners on the day.
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That’s just about it; all we have left to say is have a wonderful Great Manchester Run and have an incredible day – and for those of you running: go and absolutely smash it! We’re proud of you already.
GRUB On The Docks returns to MediaCity this summer with street food, World Cup screenings, and more
Emily Sergeant
Indie street food traders will be lining the Salford waterfront this summer, as GRUB On The Docks returns once again.
Summer is right around the corner, and MediaCity’s waterfront site will once again be transformed into a vibrant open-air destination built for warm weather and big moments across the season, as GRUB On The Docks returns later this week.
Running across the summer months, you can some of Greater Manchester‘s best street food traders to be serving up global flavours and summer-ready drinks, alongside live music, DJs, and just an all round laid-back atmosphere turning daytime hangouts into evening sessions.
There’ll be a rotating lineup of independent street food operators, including the likes of Sizzling Seoul’s East Asian bowls, Dukes Po Boys big American flavours, and Umami Cartel’s Japanese and Mexican fusion dishes all on the menu, as well as Oppa Korean Dogs, Sazume Sake, and Ilovebrioche – with many more ‘special’ traders and chefs still to be announced.
Aside from the food, the events calendar this year is packed with open-air screenings of the World Cup, classic films, and summer blockbusters, as well beer and wine festivals, wellness workshops, a New Faces Comedy all-day event, and even a dedicated Meet The Neighbours resident meet-up.
For families, there’s the popular Baby Mosh party, and plenty more activities to pass the time while schools are out for the summer.
GRUB On The Docks is returning to MediaCity this summer with street food, World Cup screenings, and loads more / Credit: Supplied
“GRUB On The Docks is all about creating a space people want to spend time in,” explained Jason Bailey, who is the Director of GRUB.
“Summer by the water, great food, cold drinks, and a proper atmosphere. MediaCity is a unique waterside location, and this is creating a pop-up for the summer months which reflects the energy of this creative campus. With the World Cup in the mix as well, it’s shaping up to be something really special.”
The Manc -
18th January 2021 
