Creative and Media
Manchester is recognised as one of Europe’s largest creative, digital and technology clusters and is home to a fast-growing £5 billion digital ecosystem.
Home to Europe’s largest purpose-built digital hub, MediaCityUK, and with a heritage of broadcast and media production, marketing and advertising as well as specialist skills in service design, animation, gaming, augmented and virtual realities; Manchester is a place where creativity and technology are jointly driving the next wave of innovation in the creative and media industries.
Manchester’s thriving creative, digital and technology community of more than 10,000 businesses including the BBC, Brown Bag Films, Mediacom and Dentsu Aegis.
“You have got the most incredible talent pool bring in Manchester, whilst also having some of the most creative brands that you can work with”
The ecosystem comprises companies at all stages, from start-ups and SMEs to global brands and homegrown unicorns that IPO above $1 billion; all of which converge and collaborate in the city’s creative, digital and media hubs.
Manchester is a city region rich in specialist talent and skills that creative and media businesses thrive off. The existing 86,000-strong industry workforce is supplemented by a sustainable flow of graduates from the city region’s five universities, where almost 25,000 students are enrolled in creative, digital and technology courses, as well as industry-led apprenticeships and training programmes; providing businesses with access to a wealth of specialist skills.
Manchester is home to one of Europe’s largest creative, digital and tech clusters and has been leading the way in animation for more than 40 years.
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6 minutes
Manchester wins bid to host WOMEX international music convention in October 2024
International music convention WOMEX will be coming to Manchester next year after the city won its bid to host the prestigious global event on behalf of the UK and Ireland next autumn, 23-27…
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4 minutes
Salford set to become arts and culture hotspot thanks to major funding boost
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North West schools and colleges among the best in the UK for cyber education
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Key Sectors
Manchester's breadth and depth of expertise enables cross-industry opportunities for collaboration and a world-class offer for the international investor.
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Creative And Media
Manchester is recognised as one of Europe’s largest creative, digital and technology…
Digital and Technology
As well as being home to a fast-growing £5 billion digital ecosystem, Manchester is…
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#1 of 15 Tech Cities
(exl. London) – CBRE Tech City Report 2022
#2 large city for connectivity
fDi European Cities of the Future 2019/20
UK’s leading city for attracting FDI outside London
EY's 2020 UK Attractiveness Survey
UK’s most entrepreneurial city
Business Cloud report 2021
#3 Best City in the World
Time Out 2021
UK’s most liveable city
The Economist’s Global Liveability Index 2022