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.
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).
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.
“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.
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.
What's On
Manchester Cathedral will be hosting a series of huge concerts this year
Manchester is famed for its music venues, from the tiny (The Peer Hat) to the massive (The Co-op Live) – and now our beautiful cathedral is getting in on the concert action too.
Manchester Cathedral will be the host of a captivating concert series this year as the Echoes live music series comes to town.
The packed programme of concerts ranges from pop music to soul and reggae, all set against the backdrop of the Grade I-listed landmark.
Running from September all the way into November, Echoes will bring together live entertainment with timeless architecture in the city’s most majestic setting.
The line-up includes nostalgic pop royalty like Peter Andre, B*Witched, and Vengaboys, who’ll be bringing pure party energy to the Manchester Cathedral.
Some of the world’s most soulful voices will also be filling the grand building, with performances from Tunde of Lighthouse Family, Heather Small of M People, and Sister Sledge.
There’ll be more 90s energy with Noughties Baby, as JLS’s Marvin Humes brings Dappy as a special guest.
Completing the line-up this autumn are indie rockers The Feeling and a night of reggae with Maxi Priest and David Rodigan.
Expect nostalgia, energy and soul beneath the historic vaulted ceilings and sandstone arches of the Manchester Cathedral.
Whether you’re reliving the soundtrack of your youth, soaking in some proper anthems, or just basking in the acoustics of the magnificent cathedral, Echoes will have something for you.
The concert series is brought to you by JBM Music with tickets on sale on Friday 27 June from 9am HERE.
You can see the full line-up with dates below.
Echoes at Manchester Cathedral concert line-up in full
Thursday 25 September – Sister Sledge
Friday 26 September – Tunde Of Lighthouse Family
Saturday 27 September – B*Witched
Thursday 2 October – Peter Andre
Saturday 4 October – Marvin Humes Presents Noughties Baby with special guest Dappy
Friday 31 October – The Feeling
Saturday 1 November – Boney M
Thursday 27 November – Maxi Priest & David Rodigan
Friday 28 November – Vengaboys
Saturday 29 November – Heather Small – The Voice Of M People
The Hundred crowds inside Emirates Old Trafford are in for a real treat as rising Manchester star, Lusaint, is set to join the lineup of live music acts playing the 2025 tournament.
We’re so excited about this up-and-coming local singer and the rest of the live music lineup on show at this year’s competition.
Ahead of the fast-paced, family-friendly format returning to Emirates Old Trafford this August, the bands and musicians offering yet more entertainment on matchdays have now been announced, along with details of more activities for all ages.
The Hundred Final at Lord’s in London will be headlined by solo singer, Perrie (a.k.a. Perrie Edwards, formerly of Little Mix), and the Manchester games are boasting some great names too.
In addition to Perrie, other big names signed up for 2025 are the likes of York four-piece Glass Caves, Bristol experimental live-looper, Bexx, as well as the best of soul and R’n’B in Brighton, Iyamah.
But we can’t lie, naturally, it’s all about whose playing The Hundred fixtures at Old Trafford that we’re most fussed about.
Following past years where the competition has seen the likes of Zara Larsson, Rudimental, Bastille and Jax Jones; Raye, Becky Hill, Everything Everything and Self Esteem, they’ve managed to pique our interest yet again.
Really channelling the platforming power of the BBC Introducing partnered stages for the latest edition, Lusaint was the first name to catch our attention for obvious reasons.
She featured on our Manchester artists of the month list not too long ago, and if you haven’t given her music a try before, now’s the perfect time before seeing her in person at The Hundred – worth the ticket price on her own, if you ask us.
Better still, she’s not the only name we’re excited about seeing this summer, as joining the live music lineup in Manchester is native hip-hop, grime, soul and afrobeats musician, Prido, whose storytelling style has been making waves not just within the genre but across the city.
For instance, his last live set for BBC Introducing at Reading Festival 2024 saw plenty of attention online, and he’s definitely one to watch, even if you don’t manage to catch him at the cricket. Aimei 媚 and Lowes complete this year’s lineup and are set to take the stage throughout August.
Manchester Originals women’s player Sophie Ecclestone said: “The live music at The Hundred is one of my favourite things about playing in the competition. It brings an extra element to The Hundred which is different to other forms of cricket.”
With early bird tickets available from just £5 for under 16s and for £17 adults, it’s no surprise that 9,000 have already been sold for the Originals‘ derby against Northern Superchargers on Sunday, 17 August.
You can find out more information on what else is in store at The Hundred 2025 beyond the live music lineup and grab your tickets for Manchester HERE.
You can read our review of her recent show HERE.PerriePridoJust some of the names that make up The Hundred live music lineup for 2025. (Credit: Press shots/Audio North)
The Manc -
18th January 2021 
