George Osborne announced in yesterday’s Budget that the government is set to invest heavily in Northern transport links. Upgrades to the M62 will greatly improve the current commuting time for those behind the wheel, while work on the train lines will slash the time it takes to travel between Manchester and Leeds, two key cities that make up the Northern Powerhouse.
This large investment in the Northern transport infrastructure is likely to attract even more businesses to the North as they intend to make the most of the region’s economic growth and the wealth of skills and talent on offer.
We know we’re biased, but Manchester truly is the place to be! For those that are not familiar with what Manchester has to offer, here are four reasons why you should join the thousands of people who migrate up North each year:
1. Flourishing bars and restaurants
With four or five new restaurants opening each month, Manchester has now beaten London to the record of ‘fastest rate of growth in food business’ over the last decade. As the population of the North grows, so does the audience of diners.
The city is home to an ever-growing variety of drinking and dining hotspots, making it a hive of activity for foodie enthusiasts. Areas like Spinningfields, China Town, The Printworks, Corn Exchange, The Northern Quarter (home of JAM towers) and Barton Arcade are thriving hospitality hubs, so Manchester really is giving London a run for its dinner money. It’s not surprising that hospitality empire, D&D London has set its sights on opening a restaurant in one of Manchester’s prime locations, Spinningfields, within the year.
Insider tip – PKB is one to watch on the independent café scene, serving some of the best brews in the UK. If you’ve not already been, we definitely recommend a visit!
2. Transport links
Manchester has great transport links that are only set to improve. With easy and fast train routes in and out of the city, it takes a mere two hours to travel between Manchester and the capital. The city boasts an impressive, ever-growing tram network, providing easy access around the city, as well as Manchester airport – the UK’s third largest airport.
There are also plans to build a high-speed Northern Powerhouse railway at Piccadilly station, creating a super hub of transport that connects Manchester with major cities in the UK.
3. World-class universities
Manchester has three universities, attracting applicants world-wide, and hosting over 80,000 students. With 7,200 creative and media students and 6,000 computing and technology graduates, the city is filled to the brim with intelligent, forward thinking minds.
What’s more, Manchester University has 25 Nobel Prize winners among its staff – the third highest after Oxford and Cambridge.
4. Digital and creative hotspot
With the arrival of Media City UK, Manchester’s reputation as a digital and creative hotspot has been well and truly established. A hub of media powerhouses, Media City UK is home to field leaders in journalism, PR, video, sound, and more. Complete with state of the art facilities, it is the largest purpose built media location in Europe .
Businesses in London are often choosing to have offices up North, and appoint PR and marketing agencies in Manchester in order to reach new audiences, take advantage of the growing media presence, and work with the wealth of creative minds the city has to offer. Of course there’s also the added benefit of cheaper rent and services in the North, which is ideal for businesses looking for quality, cost effective business ventures. And with the wealth of government investment, the economical success of the North is only looking to grow.
As iconic Mancunian musician Ian Brown once said, “Manchester has everything except a beach.” We’re inclined to agree with you, Ian.
If you’d like to grow your business in the North’s capital, we can help. Drop us a line at jaime@jampr.co.uk.
