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.”
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.”
Sub Sectors
Manchester has the infrastructure in place to support innovation, business growth and commercialisation.
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…

Joseph Beaden Head of Inward Investment – Creative, Digital & Tech
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2 minutes
Manchester named UK’s most AI ready city for second year
Manchester has been named the UK’s most AI-ready city for the second consecutive year, according to new research. The SAS AI Cities Index 2025, produced by data and AI company SAS, evaluates…
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4 minutes
Report says Greater Manchester on course to become European leader in AI innovation
Greater Manchester’s AI companies are now valued at £3.14bn, more than five times their 2020 valuation, and the city region is on a path of considerable growth, according to a new report…
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3 minutes
BT completes UK office transformation plan with opening of flagship new Manchester office
BT has announced the opening of its new multi-million-pound office in the heart of Manchester. The opening of Four New Bailey is the final step in BT Group’s five year, UK-wide ‘Better…
Digital City Festival
Brought to you by Prolific North, the purpose of the Festival is to showcase the North’s thriving digital and tech ecosystems, and support further growth and investment. Forget London…
Camp Digital 2025: digital, design and UX conference
Nexer Digital presents a day of illuminating talks and workshops from industry leaders across design and digital. With a mix of presentations and practical takeaways, expect bright ideas and plenty of…
UK Space Conference 2025
UK Space Conference is back for 2025 with a new venue, a host of new conference features, and another international line up of expert speakers. A lot has happened since the last event in Belfast 2023…
Key Sectors
Manchester's breadth and depth of expertise enables cross-industry opportunities for collaboration and a world-class offer for the international investor.
Advanced Manufacturing
Manchester is at the heart of the UK’s largest manufacturing and advanced engineering…
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…
Financial, Professional And Business Services
Manchester is home to the largest regional financial, professional and business…
Net zero
Manchester offers access to world-leading research facilities, state-of-the-art…
Life Science and Healthcare
Home to world-leading research and development assets as well as the largest clinical…
The UK’s most ‘AI ready’ city
AI and analytics software firm SAS
#2 large city for connectivity
fDi European Cities of the Future 2019/20
University of Manchester 8th best university in Europe
TopUniversities.com
UK’s leading city for attracting FDI outside London
EY's 2023 UK Attractiveness Survey
#5 ranking emerging ecosystem out of the top 100
Global Start-up Ecosystem Index 2024
Largest regional FinTech ecosystem outside London
Whitecap Consulting
UK’s most liveable city
The Economist’s Global Liveability Index 2022