Built to scale.
Support to grow.
small to medium size businesses
Start, scale and succeed in Greater Manchester.
Whether you’re founding a new business or scaling an existing SME, Greater Manchester offers the talent, infrastructure and support to help you grow with confidence.
This is a city region built for ambitious businesses, combining deep talent pools, access to funding, lower operating costs and a highly connected support ecosystem that removes friction at every stage of growth.
Invest Manchester is here to help you navigate it…
Why Manchester for sme's and start ups
Greater Manchester gives smaller businesses the advantages of a global city, without the barriers. A place where businesses grow faster.
fast growth
- Operating costs around 20% lower than London
- Access to 7.9 million people within a one-hour commute
- Strong demand from large corporates, public sector and global clients
talent rich
- 120,000+ students across five universities
- Strength in digital, tech, engineering, life sciences and professional services
- Proven ability to attract and retain international talent
collaborative ecosystem
- Dense network of accelerators, incubators and innovation hubs
- Strong links between universities, industry and investors
- A culture of collaboration, not competition
Support for founders starting a business
If you’re looking to start your business in Greater Manchester, you won’t be doing it alone. The city has a deep, well-connected startup ecosystem, and Invest Manchester works closely with partners across Greater Manchester to help founders move from idea to execution, and from early traction to sustainable growth.
Setting up your business
From day one, we can help you navigate the practicalities of setting up your business. That includes guidance on where to locate based on your sector and stage, which local and national support programmes are right for you, and how to access early-stage networks that provide advice, mentoring and peer support. Whether you’re pre-revenue or already trading, Manchester offers clear pathways into the right communities.
Finding space to grow
Funding and finance are also core strengths of the city. Manchester has one of the UK’s strongest regional funding ecosystems, with access to angel investors, seed funding, early-stage venture capital, and a range of public-backed funding and grant programmes. Invest Manchester works closely with partners such as The Growth Company, GC Angels, and local investment networks to help founders understand what funding is available, when it’s appropriate, and how to access it.
Accessing top talent
Talent is one of Manchester’s strongest assets. We can help founders connect into graduate recruitment pipelines, universities and training providers, and advise on how to build and grow teams sustainably. With one of the UK’s largest student populations and a diverse, experienced workforce, Manchester supports businesses at every stage of their talent journey.
Support for SMEs Expanding into Manchester
If you’re an established SME looking to open a new location, relocate or scale, Manchester offers a low-risk, high-reward environment.
Market entry and expansion support
- Market intelligence and sector insight
- Advice on choosing the right location
- Introductions to local partners, suppliers and networks
Talent and skills
- Access to a deep, skilled and multilingual workforce
- Support navigating recruitment and training options
- Links to specialist skills pipelines
Property solutions
- Office, industrial, lab and flexible workspace options
- Support identifying space aligned to your growth plans
- Advice on future-proofing your location choice
Funding and growth support
- Introductions to scale-up funding and investment
- Support accessing public and private growth finance
- Connections to innovation and R&D support
Sector Strengths That Support Growth
Manchester is home to strong SME and startup communities across:
- Digital, cyber & AI
- Creative and media
- Advanced manufacturing and engineering
- Low carbon
- Life sciences and health innovation
- Financial, professional and business services
These sectors benefit from established supply chains, anchor employers and strong customer demand – creating real opportunities for SMEs to win work and scale.
how Invest Manchester helps you
Invest Manchester offers a free and confidential service, tailored to your business and stage of growth. We can help you:
- Understand the market opportunity
- Find the right location
- Access talent and funding
- Connect with the right partners
- De-risk your investment decisions
Whether you’re testing an idea or scaling an established business, we’ll help you make informed, confident choice. You don’t need all the answers before you get started. Explore the ecosystem, understand your options, and when you’re ready, the Invest Manchester team is here to help.
