As summer draws to a close, September is shaping up to be a month full of activity, with Greater Manchester set to take centre stage on both national and international platforms.
This week, we are proudly hosting Japan Week 2025 in Manchester city centre, a celebration of contemporary Japanese culture that builds perfectly on our successful trade mission to Japan in June.
The highlight so far has been welcoming a business delegation from Japan and the Mayor of Osaka to our Business Seminar at Deloitte, where we continued to strengthen emerging partnerships. It was a pleasure to host the event and see the growing ties between Greater Manchester and Osaka. Thank you to all who attended.
Building on this international momentum, we’re also looking ahead to the Germany Innovation Summit on September 24-25. Hosted by Mayor Andy Burnham, the summit will explore collaboration in hydrogen, digital health, and cybersecurity, including access to our new Hydrogen Strategy 2025-30. In the same week, we will also be welcoming a delegation from our friends at Opportunity Austin and deepening trade and cultural relationships with Barcelona through La Merce Festival.
As Greater Manchester’s global profile grows, so too does recognition of our sector strengths. The new North of England FinTech Report 2025 confirms we now lead the North with 175 FinTech firms, the largest cluster outside London.
This kind of growth is supported by continued investment in the infrastructure that makes it possible, with £6 million set to be committed to transport improvements, including Metrolink extensions to Stockport, new links to Salford, and early-stage plans for underground city-centre routes.
Finally, if you’re attending LREF on September 17th or joining us for the Manchester @ MIPIM 2026 launch on September 11th, we look forward to seeing you there.
Joe Manning, Managing Director | MIDAS, Manchester’s Inward Investment Agency
The biggest news from Manchester this month…
- Greater Manchester To Invest £6 Million Into Tram and Train Network Expansion
- Mayfield Park Homes Get Green Light
- University of Manchester Named As One Of World’s Leading Universities In 2025
- Stockport 8 Sustainable Neighbourhood Secures Approval
Japanese Investment Reaches Nearly £118 Million
Japanese companies have invested nearly £118 million in Greater Manchester in the last 12 months, with major commitments from Astemo, Mizkan and Daikin.
This is being celebrated during Japan Week, taking place in Manchester between now and 9th September and marks its 50th anniversary. Earlier this week MIDAS led the Japan Business Seminar, celebrating recent investments and exploring future trade opportunities.
The city-region is now home to over 25 Japanese businesses and has become the natural UK base for Japanese companies outside London, particularly in advanced manufacturing. The University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University have attracted 500 Japanese students between them in the last two years.
Greater Manchester Leads Northern FinTech Revolution
The new North of England FinTech Report 2025 confirms Greater Manchester’s position as the region’s FinTech powerhouse, with 175 firms representing the largest cluster in the North outside of London.
The sector employs over 20,000 people across the city-region and contributes £5 billion annually to the North of England economy, set to grow to £6 billion by 2030 as part of the UK’s 10% global FinTech market share.
Did you know?
Oldham kick-started the Japanese automobile giant Toyota.
Greater Manchester’s relationship with Japan dates back over 150 years to when three students from Japan travelled to Oldham to learn textile spinning techniques from Platt Brothers.
This collaboration ultimately led to the creation of Toyota – when Japanese innovator Sakichi Toyoda sold his automatic loom patent to the Oldham-based manufacturers for £100,000 in 1929. His son used the proceeds to diversify into automobiles.
Forthcoming Events
- China International Fair for Investment and Trade @ Xiamen, China – 8-11 September
- Manchester Fashion Week @ Manchester, UK – 9–11 September
- Manchester @ MIPIM 2026 Launch @ Manchester, UK – 11 September
- LREF @ London, UK – 17 September
- Germany Innovation Summit @ Manchester, UK – 24-25 September
- SIBOS @ Frankfurt, Germany – 29 September – 2 October
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