Sun, 15 Feb 2026

Sun, 15 Feb 2026 Could Manchester be a model for the UK to kickstart growth?

With an annual growth rate of 3.1%, Manchester's economy has performed twice as well as that of the UK as a whole.

* A large university campus and highly educated workforce
* Strong cultural assets, such as music, football, and cycling
* A hub of major employers like Bank of New York, IBM, and Booking.com
* Effective transport infrastructure, with the Metrolink tram system setting records for usage The city's population has increased by 9.7% between 2011 and 2021, with some developers predicting it will reach 250,000 by 2035. The Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, attributes this growth to a combination of factors, including the city's young workforce, cultural attractions, and new public transport system. Manchester's productivity has also seen incredible growth, with GVA (gross value added) per capita almost trebling since the turn of the century. However, challenges remain, such as addressing homelessness and ensuring that economic growth spreads beyond the city centre to surrounding towns and villages. Some experts argue that Manchester's success is due to a unique combination of factors, including devolution, airport investment, universities, and cultural attractions. The Mayor's ability to coerce and hold together economic enthusiasm has also been seen as crucial to the city's growth. While there are lessons to be learned from Manchester's model, it may not be easily replicable elsewhere in the country due to differences in raw materials, such as the number of young graduates.
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