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Watch: A year of big wins - strengthening our IT foundations

27 Feb 2026

Watch a showcase reel on how the work of our Evolve Programme over the past year has strengthened the digital foundations we all rely on, every day.

Image showing two colleagues looking at a laptop

Evolve is an important programme within our wider digital and IT strategy, helping us to provide stable and highly available IT services that enable our current and future needs as we progress towards Manchester 2035.

It’s a key part of delivering our ambition to be a University where modern, secure and seamless digital services enable excellent teaching, world leading research and an outstanding colleague and student experience. 

As Patrick Hackett, Registrar, Secretary and Chief Operating Officer, puts it, Evolve “will directly lead to our University being genuinely digital, inside and out.” 

And over the past year, the progress has been impressive.

A few highlights from the video include:

  • 130 software applications, anywhere on campus: Teachers and students can now access a huge range of teaching and learning software from any PC cluster via AppsAnywhere. Some apps are even available on personal laptops.
  • Recovery of lost data: Our new Microsoft 365 backup service means that if you accidentally hit Delete (we’ve all been there) rapid recovery tools ensure your files can be restored quickly and securely.
  • Better processes for greater consistency: Standardised ways of building and testing new systems mean more control and better efficiency across our IT estate. 
  • A major leap forward for digital identity and access: Our new accessible interface is helping us retire outdated tech and strengthen security. 

These achievements demonstrate how Evolve contributes to the transformation underway across the University’s digital landscape. As PJ Hemmaway, our Chief Information Officer, says: “This work is part of a much larger effort to modernise our systems, enhance cyber resilience and create a reliable, future proof IT environment that supports Manchester 2035 and beyond. 

“And this is only the beginning. As we continue our journey to 2035, Evolve is helping build an IT environment that’s secure, reliable and ready for the digital future.

Take a few minutes and watch the full Evolve highlights video now.”

Download the video transcript.

It’s packed with achievements, colleague and student voices and a glimpse of the University we’re building together: Digital, Inside and Out.