Digital and Technology

Home to a thriving £5 billion digital ecosystem, Manchester is officially the UKs Top Digital Tech City and its reputation for the radical has seen it take a leading position across established and emerging digital sectors, creating commercial opportunities, and leveraging tech to transform tomorrow’s business landscape.

From start-ups to SMEs to global brands including Google, BooHoo, The Hut Group, and Microsoft, Manchester has more than 10,000 digital and tech businesses. Sitting side by side in the city’s digital and technology clusters, incubators and co-working spaces, together they converge, collaborate and drive innovation.

“Manchester is one of the most vibrant and modern cities in Europe, with strong education links and high connectivity, offering outstanding opportunities and quality of life for our team. The new Enterprise City space is the perfect home for game development, with its deep investment in businesses focused on media, technology and creativity.”

— Chris Roberts, CEO of Cloud Imperium Games

The city region innovates across a variety of sectors and in 2020, a world-first AI study found that Manchester outperforms all other major UK cities in fields including AI and data, cyber security, eCommerce and IoT. Manchester is also home to the UK's largest regional FinTech ecosystem.

A leading destination for Foreign Direct Investment, Manchester has recently been voted as the UK’s most entrepreneurial city offering pioneering companies, large and small, the key ingredients to commercialise fresh and novel ideas.

“Since joining the Greater Manchester ecosystem, we’ve been absolutely blown away. The growth ambition of everyone here is massive, but the city-region has preserved the essence of its original vision - community comes first. Greater Manchester brings together the very best minds with a shared purpose of making the North West a world-class destination for digital and cyber. Thanks to this, in a matter of months we’ve been able to grow a strong and supportive network, and we’re ready and excited to play our part in Greater Manchester’s brilliant story.”

— Janet Coulthurst, Chief of Staff at 6point6

Cyber Security

The UK is committed to tackling cyber security and Manchester, home to the nation’s fastest-growing…

eCommerce

The city is an eCommerce powerhouse that has nurtured several of the UK's homegrown retail tech…

Gaming

Manchester has a fast growing gaming sector and with companies including Team 17, Smashmouth Games…

Artificial Intelligence

Home to a growing number of AI companies including Peak, Dream Agility, and Digital Bridge…

CDT Factsheet

Manchester- The UK's Top Digital Tech City

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Joseph Beaden Head of Inward Investment – Creative, Digital & Tech

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joseph.beaden@midas.org.uk

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