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Press & Media Centre
Welcome to the MIDAS Media Centre. This page provides journalists, editors and stakeholders with direct access to official information, key contacts, facts and leadership insights relating to inward investment in Greater Manchester.
Whether you’re covering major investment announcements, sector growth stories, economic performance or place-based policy, this toolkit offers a single, reliable source for accurate and up-to-date information.
About MIDAS (Manchester’s Inward Investment Agency)
MIDAS is the inward investment promotion agency for Greater Manchester, with a strategic aim to secure significant levels of new investment for the city region to create and safeguard jobs.
This is achieved through the global business marketing of the city region’s key sectors and the provision of an extensive package of free advice and assistance for potential investors and location consultants.
MIDAS has helped hundreds of businesses successfully relocate to or expand in Greater Manchester.
Press Office
Primary Contact, Verity Carson, PR and Communications Manager. For interview requests, comments, background briefings or data enquiries, please contact the press office directly.
Key Statistics
Population
- 2.8m Greater Manchester population
Economy
- £100bn GVA
- Largest regional economy outside London
- 31.% average annual economic growth 2015-2023
- 20% lower operating costs than London
- 124,000 businesses
Talent & Education
- Over 120,000 students across five universities
- 36,000 STEM students
- 7.9m people aged 16+ within one hour commute
Infrastructure & Connectivity
- Carbon neutral by 2038
- Manchester Airport: direct flights to 200+ destinations
- £1 billion investment in airport transformation
- £1.5 billion investment in transport infrastructure
Sector Factsheets
Explore Greater Manchester’s strengths across priority sectors:
- Creative, Digital & Technology – link to the factsheet
- Advanced Manufacturing – link to the factsheet
- Financial Professional Business Services – link to the factsheet
- Life Sciences – link to the factsheet
Each factsheet provides sector-specific data, key assets, major employers and investment opportunities.
Joe Manning, Managing Director
- Substantial experience in investment promotion and broader topics relating to this
- Expert in inward investment and Greater Manchester business landscape
- Regular speaker on economic development
- LinkedIn: /Joe-Manning
Meet the Invest Manchester Management Team
Powered by people. Driven by insight. And focused on your success.
Joe Manning
Managing Director
David Hilton
Business Development Director
Meet our Specialist Advisors
Rooted in Insight. Driven by Experience. And Here to Help
- Get in Touch
Andrea Winders
Head of Sector, Life Sciences - Get in Touch
Andrew Toolan
Head of Sector, Financial Professional Business Services - Get in Touch
Audrey Peers
Head of Strategic Partnerships - Get in Touch
Joseph Beaden
Head of Sector, Creative, Digital and Technology - Get in Touch
Maria Acastenco
Head of Sector, National Security and Defence - Get in Touch
Mark Shepherd
Business Development Manager, Low Carbon - Get in Touch
Rachel Eyre
Head of Sector, Advanced Manufacturing and Low Carbon
press office contact
Press Office Primary Contact Verity Carson, PR and Communications Manager. For interview requests, comments, background briefings or data enquiries, please contact the press office directly.
Photography and media assets
High-resolution images are available for editorial use via our image gallery.
Assets include:
- Manchester skyline
- Sector-specific imagery
- University facilities
- Innovation and science spaces
- Local authority locations
Access & Usage Guidelines
This press kit is regularly updated. For the latest version or specific requests, please contact the press office directly.
- Image and video usage requires attribution to MIDAS
- Case studies, data sets and additional materials are available upon request
