For over half a century, the Manchester city region has been associated with the development and growth of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). From the pioneering developments of Kilburn and Williams who created the world’s first stored program computer to the recent development of one of the world’s smallest and most powerful computers, Manchester is at the forefront of developments in the computing industry.
Today the region is home to a number of the world’s leading ICT companies including the UK headquarters of companies such as Fujitsu, Brother International Europe and Siemens (Energy and Automation Division). Manchester city region’s impressive track record in attracting and retaining leading players in the industry has led to the largest concentration of ICT industries outside of the South East. With over 100,000 people in IT professional employment, the North West represents 10% of the UK’s IT workforce.
The availability of highly skilled and experienced software engineers, analyst/programmers and network specialists combined with a reputation for retaining IT staff more easily than other UK “hot spots” has encouraged world-renowned technology businesses such as Agilent Technologies, IBM, Cisco Systems, Oracle and Sun Microsystems to establish and grow important operations in the city region.
Manchester is also home to a range of innovative companies that lead the way in certain key areas of software, for example Transitive Technologies, a Manchester University spin-out and recipient of the European ICT prize for innovation, counts Apple, IBM, Intel and Sun amongst its key customers.
For more information about the ICT industry in the Manchester City Region, please contact:
Hannah Lucas, Business Development Manager
hannah.lucas@midas.org.uk
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