Why Manchester
Second only to London in terms of economic output, Manchester is the capital of the north
It’s also the UK’s best city to live in according to The Economist magazine. Offering everything you’d expect from a modern global city, there are countless attributes that make it such a popular destination. The lifestyle, the prowess of its universities, its connectivity, the strength and diversity of its business community, the popularity of its football teams, to name but a few.
The city also stands to benefit from a number of infrastructure projects such as the continued expansion of Manchester Airport and the proposed Network North rail developments. Put this all together and it’s easy to see why Manchester has enjoyed the fastest economic growth of any city outside of London in the last 20 years. A trend that is unlikely to abate any time soon.
Greater Manchester has a population of 2.8bn people
The UK's 'Most Liveable City'
(The Economist’s Global Liveability Index 2024)
£79bn: Greater Manchester’s GVA
(Office of National Statistics)
Fastest economic growth of any UK city outside of London in last 20 years
(Office of National Statistics)
Top UK City (outside of London) for foreign direct investment
(Ernst & Young 2022)
Over 120,000 higher education students with 51% graduate retention
(Centre for Cties)
More 25-29 year olds in the region than any other area of the UK
(Office of National Statistics)
Home to the UK's third largest airport with a £1bn investment programme offering 190+ direct routes
A PLACE TO STUDY
University of Manchester
Part of the prestigious Russell Group of universities and the largest single-site university in the UK, Manchester University is the ranked the 8th best in the UK and 28th best university in the world.
19 mins Bus
10 mins Cycle
Manchester Metropolitan
The UK’s number 1 sustainable university, Manchester Metropolitan is also home to the country’s second largest business school, triple accredited by EQUIS, AMBA & AACSB.
16 mins Bus
9 mins Cycle
University of Salford
Originally founded as The Royal Technical Institute in 1896, the University of Salford’s hands-on, industry-focused courses often feature live briefs, internships and placements.
13 mins Bus
9 mins Cycle
Royal Northern College of Music
Continually recognised as one of the world’s most forward-thinking conservatoires, the RNCM holds the highest available Gold ranking Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).
18 mins Bus
11 mins Cycle
University Academy 92
Working with industry partners including Microsoft, KPMG and TalkTalk, UA92 has developed a unique curriculum inspired by business needs and personal development.
29 mins Tram
19 mins Cycle
With one of the largest student populations in Europe, Manchester is a great place to study and to start a career
Boasting five higher education institutions, over 120,000 students, including 50,000 international students study across Greater Manchester. Even more impressive is the fact over 50% of the city’s students stay in Manchester on graduation.
Delivering Manchester businesses with a rich stream of well educated and capable employees, a city with the career prospects on offer would be hard to find.
A place to
DO BUSINESS
Once the heart of the industrial revolution, today Manchester is driving change through the tech, professional and scientific sectors
Manchester is the largest UK city region economy outside of London, with a GVA of £78.7bn. Not to mention, a leading European business destination and the most successful UK city for attracting foreign direct investment after the capital.
Manchester is the largest city region economy outside of London and has grown in real terms by 33% since the turn of the century, significantly outpacing UK growth of 25% over that same period. Manchester’s economy is predicted to continue to grow in strength in both the short and long-term, with £94.9bn GVA forecast by 2037.
A key factor in this commercial expansion is that a number of well-known businesses and organisations have decided to call Manchester home – including the BBC, BUPA, Freshfields, Siemens, ITV, Google, Amazon and Kellogg’s. Their vote of confidence has strengthened the city’s status in the UK and globally, in fact 80 of the FTSE 100 companies have offices in Manchester:
Meeting places & spaces
Orega – Piccadilly Place & King Street
Clockwise
Huckletree
Beehive Lofts
Colony – One Silk Street & Piccadilly
Serendipity Labs
Bold Bauhaus
Regus
Etc.venues
Jobs: 900
Jobs: 350
Jobs: 3,500
Jobs: 600+
Jobs: 200+
Jobs: 200+
Jobs: 1,800
Jobs: 1,000 > 2,000+
Jobs: 1,400
Jobs: 800+
Jobs: 1000+
Jobs: 3,200
A place
TO SOCIALISE
A city that thrives on connection, in Manchester you'll find buzzing bars, eclectic eateries and vibrant cultural scenes, making it the ultimate place to socialise and unwind
From rooftop cocktails in Spinningfields to live music in the Northern Quarter, Manchester offers a diverse and thriving social scene. Whether catching up with friends over street food or dancing into the early hours, there’s always something happening.
The city’s unique blend of historic charm and modern energy creates unforgettable experiences at every turn. Independent cafés, must-see pop-ups, artisan markets and world-class venues bring communities together, day and night. Whether it’s a quiet catch-up over coffee or a more lively night out, Manchester delivers: The city that invites you in and keeps you coming back.
Manchester: a city for embracing life
Alive with culture, energy and opportunity, discover what makes Manchester the perfect place to embrace life and build a future