TECH HUBS ECOSYSTEM MAPPING
Gathering insights from data analysis to better understand the gaps in Manchester’s investment landscape, to nurture a more inclusive digital ecosystem.
In 2023, the number of start-ups in Greater Manchester hit a record high, with more than 41,000 new businesses registered within the span of twelve months. That’s more than 100 every day!
It’s no surprise that Manchester’s innovation economy is thriving. Widely considered the UK’s biggest tech hub outside of London, Manchester has been built a reputation as a city with a rich pool of diverse talent and a truly collaborative ecosystem. An attractive destination for investment, it has been named as one of the UK’s top five start-up ecosystems.
From funding support to training opportunities, organisations in Manchester offer a broad array of resources to help businesses meet their full potential and achieve future success. Support hubs and communities for founders provide valuable networking opportunities, as well as the chance to tap into the shared experiences of fellow entrepreneurs. However, gaps in the investment landscape mean that not all founders are able to overcome barriers to access and reach the right support at the right time.
Diversity in the tech ecosystem is vital for innovation. Where a wide range of perspectives and ideas are supported to thrive, the variety of businesses succeeding in Manchester becomes broader. This diversity of thought encourages greater creativity, promotes healthy competition, and increases the potential for businesses to tackle the needs, challenges, and wishes of the wider population.
We want to make sure that the pipeline for investment in Manchester tech businesses is equitable and fair. All entrepreneurs, irrespective of background, identity, or circumstances, should be able to access the opportunities and resources needed for their business to have the best chance of success.
“Diversity in the tech ecosystem is vital for innovation.”
To nurture a more inclusive ecosystem, we first need to understand where gaps lie, and their impact on emerging businesses in Manchester. Over the next year, we are collaborating with a technical consultancy partner to gather insights from data analysis on the key barriers to growing a fairer and more diverse ecosystem. Through gathering data on where, how, and why gaps are occurring, we can work with stakeholders across the city region to address key disparities and barriers to equitable provision.
For Manchester to remain at the forefront of innovation, and continue to attract businesses and investment, we must actively create pathways for a range of businesses to grow. By leveraging data to identify where barriers to exist, we can begin to shape a more inclusive future ecosystem.
In short: we cannot tackle challenges without first naming them.
As Manchester’s tech ecosystem continues to grow, we want to guide its trajectory towards a fairer, more inclusive, and prosperous future. Research from the project has the potential to help expand the array of support available for new businesses to a broader range of founders, including those from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds. Where policy leads, stakeholders, and the wider public understand where gaps in provision lie, we can work together to address disparities through conscious action, and build a future for our city where everyone has an equal chance at success.
