TECH HUBS WORKING GROUP
Supporting innovation and economic growth through close collaboration with Manchester’s technology hubs.
Manchester’s digital sector is thriving.
With over 10,000 tech and digital businesses, our digital economy is one of the fastest growing in Europe. Recognised as the number one regional tech city, and the biggest tech hub outside of London and the South-East, Manchester’s tech economy is valued at over £5bn.
At the heart of our city’s growth is community. We believe in the value of working together towards a shared goal and forging strong partnerships between businesses, academia, and the private and public sectors.
An essential part of this digital ecosystem are Manchester’s technology hubs: vibrant communities of digital businesses and entrepreneurs developed to help accelerate and incubate start-ups. For early-stage businesses, involvement in a tech hub programme can provide access to the training, networks, and resources needed to scale and grow.
Working collaboratively, rather than in silos, can drive better results for everyone. More robust connections between organisations can inspire potential for new partnerships, while encouraging healthy competition. Through providing start-ups and scale-ups with the financial and developmental support needed to succeed, tech hubs play a vital role in driving the continued growth of our existing ecosystem and play a vital role in helping to diversify our tech economy.
“Working collaboratively, rather than in silos, can drive better results for everyone.”
Manchester is home to several technology and digital hubs that support start-ups and scale-ups to grow their digital business through the provision of funding, resources, and training. The Digital Strategy collaborates closely with some of our city’s most prominent tech hubs in a regular working group. By working alongside tech hubs in Manchester, we can identify opportunities for collaboration to build a prosperous, welcoming, and resilient digital economy, where businesses of all sizes are supported to flourish. By understanding the strengths of the sector, we can also identify areas to improve Manchester’s offer and ensure that more opportunities are made available a broader range of people.
Manchester is well on its way to becoming a world-leading tech economy. Strengthening relationships with the wide network of organisations supporting the digital and tech sectors and facilitating connections between tech hubs could further accelerate that trajectory. Over the next year, we will work together to make Manchester an even more attractive destination to start, relocate, and grow a business. Through increased collaboration, we can create new opportunities for innovation; broaden the support available to SMEs; and ultimately drive better outcomes for everyone in our city.
