Several factors have contributed to Manchester being one of the best UK cities for startups.
Manchester has a collaborative culture in which ambitious startups can form partnerships with like-minded businesses. Commercial rents in Manchester are competitive too, especially in areas surrounding Manchester city centre.
Another reason for Manchester’s popularity is access to a highly talented workforce. Though some startups recruit from outside Manchester, there is a large pool of local Manchester talent. The city has a first class university that enables startups to recruit highly skilled graduates.
Manchester Airport has made partnerships between the city and other countries easier. For example, new direct flights have been introduced between Manchester and Mumbai, providing access to Indian companies and talent.
Manchester is also central to the Northern Powerhouse, a government assisted growth and regeneration project. This has boosted the Manchester economy and raised the profile of the region.
As well as startups, several high profile tech companies have moved to Manchester, including telecommunications giant TalkTalk, which will be creating around 500 jobs when it moves from London to Salford. E-retail behemoth Amazon has recently announced it is opening an office in Manchester, and many of the city’s firms are in the UK top 100 list of fast-growing tech companies.
There is a high demand for office space in Manchester, and many regeneration schemes to convert older commercial buildings to prime office space with all facilitates such as high-speed broadband and flexible workspaces needed by Manchester startups, along with the necessary schemes to support them.
