Dan Thompson: «Is Manchester about to become a global digital leader?»

Dan Thompson (@DanThompsonNews)
Guardian Small Business (Network Connected for Success) (@GdnSmallBiz). The Guardian (@guardian).

«From the industrial revolution, to the birth of the computer and the rise of acid house, Manchester has a history of creativity and innovation that is recognised worldwide.

»But does the city have what it takes to become a global digital leader? Sir Howard Bernstein thinks so.

»The Manchester council chief executive is highly-regarded across the country for the way he led the city’s rebirth over the past 20 years, encouraging the private and public sectors to work together.

»He has overseen the transformation of the city centre following the IRA bomb of 1996, the creation of Sportcity for the 2002 Commonwealth Games, and the redevelopment of the Spinningfields business district – allowing Manchester to realistically stake a claim as the country’s second city.

»Sir Howard said: “Over the past 40 years, I’ve witnessed a dramatic change in Manchester’s local economy. But today, the city is on the verge of assuming its potential as a global leader in the digital economy.”

»According to Tech Nation, Manchester is the largest tech cluster outside London – with 51,901 employees in the sector. It also has the UK’s second highest GVA growth – 92% between 2010 and 2014 – while having a total digital turnover at £2.2bn, the fourth highest in the UK.

»The city’s civic and business leaders are now intent on ensuring Manchester realises its digital potential.

»A £4m government grant is to be used to create a tech hub in the city centre. The plan, known as Project Forward, is aimed at nurturing start-ups, fostering collaboration and providing mentoring. It is hoped the hub will establish a focal point in the city for attracting inward investment from technology businesses while developing and retaining the country’s best software engineers and entrepreneurs.

»The city has also secured £10m investment after a team from across industry, academia and the public sector won a competition to become the UK’s Internet of Things (IoT) City Demonstrator.

»Manchester council worked with global technology giant Cisco UK, the University of Manchester and BT to put forward a proposal that uses technology to improve health and social care, energy and environmental management and transport.

»The win will lead to the creation of a UK IoT Centre of Excellence at Manchester Science Partnerships’ city centre campus, which will provide the region’s start-ups and SMEs with access to a world-leading open innovation programme.

»Sir Howard added: “The public and private sector has to work together to ensure that every Mancunian business has the opportunity and resources to reach its potential.”

»Sir Howard has now thrown his weight behind business WiredScore as it launches in Manchester. Founded in New York three years ago, this rates and certifies buildings in terms of internet connectivity.

»It is hoped the rating system will drive up the standard of connectivity in Manchester’s buildings, which in turn will help digital economic growth.

»Manchester is the first UK city outside London in which WiredScore has launched, and the company is already working with some big names including Peel, Legal & General and Property Alliance.

»Ahead of the launch, WiredScore commissioned YouGov to interview 306 technology industry workers about their perceptions of Manchester and produced a report on how the city can grow into a digital leader.

»According to the report, the most important factor for attracting tech companies to Manchester is closer links with the city’s universities – who could offer incentives such as business accelerators or grants.

»Meanwhile, 58% of people interviewed said Manchester’s commercial landlords should offer flexible or short-term leases for start-ups, to attract them to the city.

»The report also found that a local talent pool, the city’s industrial heritage, and its commercial real estate prices were key factors in what makes Manchester attractive as a tech hub.

»WiredScore invited business and tech leaders to discuss the report at a roundtable event on Wednesday night.

»Antony Whittle, from KPMG, said Manchester needed its own home-grown success story to help attract talent. He added: “If Manchester had a tech company that came up and took the world by storm, that would be a really useful anchor.”

»Martin Bryant is co-founder of SpaceportX – one of a number of places in Manchester providing space and assistance for start-ups to flourish – along with Rise, The Sharp Project, Innospace and the Landing.

»He said Manchester was already attractive to tech talent because it was a special city, adding: “There are a few obvious reasons why Manchester is already doing well – such as lower costs than London.

»“But there is something unique about Manchester, a certain spirit that not many other places have. It makes it a different and exciting place to be based.

»“I think maybe it’s been guilty of living off its reputation too much in the recent past – that there hasn’t been much substance here – but I feel like we’ve got good momentum now.”

»Bryant also pointed to the work of support organisation Manchester Digital, which has helped foster an active tech community in the city and is trying to brand the city as a global tech leader.

»He added: “Manchester Digital is running a campaign to attract people to the city by circulating testimonies of people who have moved here and thrived. More needs to be done to market Manchester as a place where individuals can come and thrive.”

»William Newton, UK director for WiredScore, said that Manchester was becoming central to the UK’s digital evolution.

»But he added: “It is essential that developers and landlords in Manchester consider the important role of technology in business and provide the connectivity that meets the current and future needs of their occupiers.

»“Manchester has the potential to be a leading global capital of technology if it can demonstrate it’s a future-proofed choice for entrepreneurs and investors.”

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