Tech in the North West

Tech in the North West

Publish Date: 2021-05-13

Author: Victoria Bond

Fashion, football, factories, festivals, and arguably the best music scene in the world - just some of the many things Manchester is famous for. Once dubbed ‘Cottonopolis’ and ‘England’s Second City’, this incredible place has been a beacon for British businesses throughout modern history.

Of course, a lot has changed since the industrial revolution, and yet Manchester has effortlessly evolved with the times. It’s now the fastest growing tech city in Europe, and we couldn’t be prouder to be here. 

Here are some of the top reasons why we think Manchester is such an awesome city for businesses, freelancers, and workers in the digital space.

 

New Opportunities Are Created Every Day

From the textile boom to the tech boom, Manchester has been a thriving hub for new businesses for the past 300 years. The city employs over 100,000 workers in the digital economy, with new jobs created every single day. Even in its mid-pandemic state, the digital sector continues to thrive. A surge in demand for remote working tools, video conferencing, e-commerce functionality has put tech at the forefront of the entire economy’s bounce back effort. 

While a lot of companies had to make cuts and stall recruitment over 2020, many are now planning to hire new staff this year. Manchester Digital has reported that over 71% of respondents to its survey said they would onboard in 2021, with 70% planning to introduce brand new roles. See? We told you we were excellent at evolving! 

 

It’s an Optimistic Haven

It would be a lie to say that everything’s always rosey in Manchester. After all, it does rain here 140 days a year on average! And although the pandemic has indeed brought forth a lot of suffering, Manchester’s wider community has never lost its ‘glass half full’ spirit. 

A recent survey by the Business Barometer found that business confidence in the North West and Manchester rose to 29% - the highest reading since 2018, and the highest figure in the UK! The feeling is so tangible that you can practically smell the optimism in the air - or is that just our favourite restaurant opening back up? 

 

It’s Amazingly Accommodating

No matter what sort of thing you’re into, Manchester can accommodate. It offers some of the hottest nightlife, music venues, cafes, history and culture hotspots in the whole of the UK - all accessible by fantastic transport links. The city’s frequent tram services allow you to forget all about timetables - which is great news for those whose zoom meetings frequently run over! 

Manchester is also home to a student population of over 100,000 - one of the largest in Europe. This makes it the perfect place to establish symbiotic relationships between fresh talent and startups ready to grow. 

To put it simply, we absolutely love Manchester, and we couldn’t be more excited to contribute to its digital sector with cutting-edge technology that helps businesses improve employee engagement and thrive. 

If you’re a fellow digital business interested in collaborating to celebrate this sensational city, get in touch with us

 

Photo by William McCue on Unsplash

Share this article

Recommended reading

Your Employer Brand
Your Employer Brand
Why ‘zero resignations' should come as a surprise
Why ‘zero resignations' should come as a surprise
Why diversity, inclusion and belonging matter hugely to engagement
Why diversity, inclusion and belonging matter hugely to engagement
Sign up for a monthly employee engagement round up