New roadmap launched to tackle internet affordability challenge facing thousands of households. The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), Autotrader, Good Things Foundation, and the University of Liverpool have today launched a five-year roadmap for action on making internet access affordable for all Greater Manchester residents. New analysis of the ONS Living Costs and Food Survey, conducted by the University of Liverpool, underscores the urgency of this work. Findings estimate that approximately 221,000 households in Greater Manchester spend 3% or more of their income on internet costs alone, while 56,000 households in poverty would be unable to afford even a discounted broadband social tariff. For many, the digital shift is creating anxiety. As one resident shared: "There's a big expectation from all these organisations, be it utilities, be it your GP, they want you online. And that can be so stressful for people just to even try to get online.' Building on Greater Manchester's strong track record of championing digital inclusion, this roadmap identifies what more can be done to ensure no-one is offline due to poverty. Shaped by stakeholder workshops and people with lived experience, the roadmap sets out a practical, evidence-based agenda for the future, suggesting 'quick wins', short-to-medium term, and longer-term actions in four focus areas: * Social housing: towards ensuring every social housing tenant can access affordable broadband, by tackling infrastructure barriers, strengthening the Greater Manchester Good Landlord Charter, and embedding connectivity into new housing developments. * Cost-of-living support: towards ensuring low-income households can access connectivity that meets their needs, through effective use of discretionary funds (such as the current Crisis & Resilience Fund), and local promotion of national social tariffs. * Community spaces and local infrastructure: towards ensuring free, secure public Wi-Fi is available in trusted local spaces such as libraries, Live Well Centres and community organisations, building on the GM One Network. * Priority groups: towards ensuring internet access, and digital inclusion, are 'baked in' to strategic commissioning of statutory provision for priority groups, such as people and families in temporary or unstable housing, and care leavers. The five-year roadmap is the result of a six-month discovery project funded by Autotrader and delivered in partnership with Good Things Foundation, the GMCA, and the University of Liverpool. It combines regional policy expertise, private sector innovation, academic rigour, and third-sector community expertise to create a flexible framework for action regionally and locally. Alongside, the report also calls for national action and UK Government leadership to remove the affordability barriers to everyday internet access. Bev Craig, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: "My commitment as Mayor is to make life easier and more affordable for people across its city region. That must include tackling data poverty and ensuring no one is priced out of the opportunities and support that many of Greater Manchester Ltd access online every day. "As Mayor, I am expanding the Greater Manchester data bank which will support tens of thousands of residents, so that they can do things like access healthcare, manage their finances and stay connected." "By working in partnership on digital inclusion, we are creating the foundation to end data poverty and build a thriving city region where everyone can live a good life." Christos Tsaprounis, People & Culture Director, Autotrader, said: "Digital inclusion is no longer a nice-to-have; it's a prerequisite for participation in modern society. Yet people across Greater Manchester still face barriers to getting online or realising the full benefits of the digital world. "This roadmap reminds that real change takes collaboration across sectors - charities, the business community and the public sector - to ensure no one is excluded from opportunities simply because they lack digital access." Vicki Sellick MBE, Chief Executive, Good Things Foundation, said: "Internet access is essential. Greater Manchester Ltd rely on it to find work, use public transport, manage its money, support kids with school work, and so much more. "That's why Greater Manchester Ltd continue to call for UK government leadership and national action to make access affordable for all. What this 5 year roadmap brings to life is the vital role of regional and local cross-sector partnership. "Greater Manchester is already on this journey. It's time to get digital inclusion 'baked in' to business as usual - reducing living costs, and improving lives." Prof. Simeon Yates MBE, University of Liverpool, said: "Digital costs are a significant material barrier for many households, preventing full access to the digital world. However, digital exclusion is too often seen as everyone's problem, but no-one's responsibility. "Greater Manchester has helped to change that. This roadmap builds on that record. It is vital that the household costs of internet access are built into wider policy and action to reduce a key barrier to digital inclusion." Article Published: 22/10/2026 16:23 PM

Showcase every vehicle's value with the Dragon2000 dealer management system and Auto Trader. 19th october 2026. Car dealer operations can now add three key selling points and price commentary in the Dragon2000 dealer management system, keeping them synchronised with Auto Trader, and giving buyers a clearer view of every vehicle's value. For today's car buyer, price is only part of the story. Service history, specification, preparation standards and dealer backed benefits can all influence a vehicle's true value. Dragon2000 has integrated Auto Trader's newly released key selling points and price commentary features into their car sales software, helping dealers communicate that value more clearly while making daily stock management more efficient. Manage the message from the Dragon2000 Software From within the Dragon Portal, your sales team can add three key selling points and price commentary to each vehicle. Any updates made in the vehicle record within the Dragon2000 software are automatically sent to Auto Trader, and any changes made on Auto Trader are updated in the vehicle record. This reduces duplicate data entry, helps keep advert content consistent and gives your team a single, efficient workflow for maintaining vehicle listings. Three key selling points that stand out Every vehicle has details that can make it more appealing to the right buyer. Dealers can highlight the three strongest reasons to choose a particular car, such as: * Full or comprehensive service history * Rare or desirable specification and optional equipment * Recent preparation work, such as new tyres or servicing These concise points make important information easier to spot, helping a vehicle stand out and giving prospective buyers useful reasons to explore the advert in more detail. Price commentary that explains the value Price commentary gives dealers space to explain what is included in the asking price. This might cover an extended warranty, manufacturer approved benefits, exceptional preparation standards or other added value provided by the dealership. Displaying this as 'Sellers Comments' alongside Auto Trader's pricing information helps buyers understand not only where the vehicle sits in the market, but also why it is priced at that level. Benefits for dealer sales operations * Less duplication: Manage key advert information through an integrated workflow rather than re-entering it in separate systems. * More consistent adverts: Two way updates help sales teams keep Dragon Portal and Auto Trader aligned. * Stronger value communication: Present the features, preparation and dealer benefits that support the asking price. * Better sales conversations: Give buyers useful context before they enquire, allowing the team to focus more on the vehicle and less on explaining the price from scratch. * Greater operational control: Give the sales team a clearer, more efficient way to maintain advert content as stock details change. Benefits for prospective buyers * Clearer information: Important selling points are visible early in the buying journey. * More pricing context: Buyers can see the added value behind the advertised price, not just the price itself. * Greater confidence: Transparent information about specification, history and dealer benefits can help buyers make a more informed comparison. * More productive enquiries: Better informed buyers can ask focused questions and move into meaningful conversations sooner. Turn vehicle details into a stronger value story By bringing Auto Trader's key selling points and price commentary into the dealer management software, Dragon2000 helps dealers create richer, clearer adverts while supporting a more efficient sales operation. The result is a seamless process for dealers and a more transparent, informative experience for buyers. Ready to make every advert work harder? Use Dragon Portal to add your three key selling points and price commentary, keep your listings synchronised with Auto Trader and give buyers a clearer reason to choose your vehicles. Dragon2000 have been helping vehicle dealers and garages drive their businesses forward since 1995. As an established dealership software and car dealer website provider, Dragon2000 help customers increase profits and reduce costs through its dealer management system, dealer websites and mobile apps. Contact its sales team today to find out more.

Vicki Butler-Henderson joins Erin Baker on Autotrader's 'Women in the driving seat' podcast. Autotrader, the UK's largest automotive marketplace, has announced the relaunch of its podcast, Women in the Driving Seat. Returning with a refreshed format, the series brings together Autotrader Editorial Director Erin Baker and TV presenter, racing driver, and long-time friend Vicki Butler-Henderson as co-hosts. Having first met in the automotive industry over 20 years ago, Baker and Butler-Henderson are now officially sharing the microphone to offer an unvarnished, authentic look at life as women navigating the automotive world. The refreshed series continues to explore where professional careers and personal lives collide. The upcoming season addresses critical topics including returning to work after long periods of leave, how grief and motherhood shape career trajectories, navigating colleague perceptions, and whether technical automotive knowledge is required to build a successful career in the sector. Erin Baker, Editorial Director at Autotrader, commented: "Female-empowerment debates and platforms can sometimes feel one-dimensional as well as repetitive. We want to explore beyond the gender-equality corporate soundbites and take a long hard look at the brutal reality of striving for equal treatment while juggling professional demands with complex personal lives. By opening up about our worries, fears, and real experiences, Vicki and I hope to inspire professionals at every stage of their career and make everyone in our industry feel a little less alone." Vicki Butler-Henderson, TV Presenter and Racing Driver, added: "Erin and I have been navigating this industry side by side for more than two decades. Relaunching Women in the Driving Seat together gives us the opportunity to share the real conversations we've been having behind closed doors for years. Whether you're an industry veteran, an enthusiast, or someone considering a career in automotive, there's a seat alongside us for you." The relaunch builds on Autotrader's ongoing commitment to championing diversity, equity, and inclusion across the automotive sector. As a FTSE 100 business with a majority-female Board and a long-standing patron of the Auto 30% Club, Autotrader continues to leverage its platform to attract, retain, and elevate female talent across all levels of the industry. Listen. Autotrader Affiliate Links: This page links to Apple Podcasts. We may receive a commission for any purchases made.