It’s official, at least according to Time Out, Manchester is the 3rd best city in the world. Naturally, for Mancunians this status comes as no great surprise. As Ian Brown once famously said “Manchester’s got everything except a beach”, we’re enthusiastic about the charms of our city. Here’s why Manchester is a great place for creatives.
Manchester is home to 9,000 creative and technology companies, generating GVA of £3.8 billion annually, with over 78,600 people working for creative and digital companies. We have a variety of start ups, small independent agencies born in the city, global agencies with Mancunian bases, large regional agencies, plus impressive and powerful names such as Missguided, BooHoo, The Hut Group, along with global giants such as Google, BBC and IBM.
Why Manchester is a place great for creatives
Students and Graduates
Greater Manchester has the largest student population in Europe, with of over 100,000 (with almost 25,000 students enrolled in creative, digital and technology courses), producing 36,000 graduates per year.
46% of North West graduates either stay in or move to the Manchester area, meaning businesses have access to a some of the best creative graduate talent in the country. This huge swell in creative young people contributes to the youthful, start up culture present in the city.
In recent years University of Salford has opened a campus at MediaCityUK, which develops creative, media and technology talent within throwing distance of media giants such as BBC and ITV. University of Manchester is playing a crucial role within the technology and digital space, whilst Manchester Metropolitan opened The School of Digital Arts (SODA) in 2021 offering courses and collaboration in design, film, UX, photography, AI and much more.
Oxford Road Corridor
Starting at St Peter’s Square in the city centre, the Oxford Road Corridor makes up 20% of Manchester’s economic output. It is home to 8,800 businesses, houses 42,000 residents and boasts 74,000 students and 79,000 employees.
Several of Manchester’s most famous cultural spaces (Whitworth, HOME, RNCM, The Deaf Institute to name a few) are based along the corridor, along with a fantastic nightlife and a wide and varied selection of eateries.
Known as Manchester’s innovation district, you will find two of the UK’s largest universities rubbing shoulders with a number of interesting digital and technology businesses, including a number of digital agencies.
Manchester’s Creative Industries
Our creative industries are booming, in fact they are growing faster in Manchester than in any other city or region outside London.
Creative jobs in the Greater Manchester area grew by over 7000 in a two year period. The same research showed the number of individual creative industry companies grew 21 percent in two years, with an additional 1,618 creative companies, taking the total figure to 9,183. The number of roles and the variety of sectors in which marketers, designers, art directors etc. can find a job in the city is huge, this is certainly one of the reasons why Manchester is a great place for creatives.
Northern Quarter
The centre of Manchester’s independent heart, the Northern Quarter is a hub for independent businesses and creativity. The Northern Quarter is celebrated as one of the most interesting and vibrant areas of Greater Manchester and as the home to a thriving, alternative night life scene, along with dozens of interesting places to eat and shop.
There is a thriving fashion scene including the huge variety of not only independent fashion shops but designers and agencies.
In an area where the independent sector holds sway, many graduates of Manchester universities have set up galleries, bars and music venues and it’s no wonder many creative and marketing agencies have set up in and surrounding the immediate area.
Regularly used as a substitute for New York during filming for films and television shows, such as Captain America, Alfie and Morbius, the Northern Quarter has a transformative and creative quality.
MediaCityUK
Celebrating 10 years in Salford, MediaCityUK is an international hub for creativity, technology and innovation. MediaCityUK’s starting mission statement was to “create an explosion of creativity” and the area has certainly achieved it.
The BBC announced their move to the site in 2006 and by 2011 they were up and running with thousands of staff moving to Greater Manchester.
But MediaCityUK isn’t just about the BBC! The area has established itself as one of the most impressive creative and media hubs in Europe and home to many of Manchester’s creative industries.
ITV have moved part of their operations there, and a number of broadcasting, digital and design organisations have made this area, along with wider Salford Quays their home.
7,000 people are employed in MediaCityUK and 3,000 live in the area – that employment figure is estimated to hit 15,000 when the currently half developed area, is completed.
According to a report by KPMG, Salford’s creative and digital sector has grown by 142% compared to a 26% growth in these sectors across Great Britain in the same period. This was driven not only by the direct arrival of the BBC but the arrival of a cluster of organisations surrounding the BBC and benefiting from their presence.
Cost of Living
Rent is a large and shockingly high monthly expense no matter where you live, but the cost of living in Manchester compared to London is a good deal more affordable. A pre-pandemic report showed the northern pound goes 20% further than it does in London, with rental and commuting costs slashed up north compared to London.
London V Manchester rent prices
(Manchester City Centre Vs Camden) ( 1 Bed Flat)
- Average rent in Manchester city centre: £848
- Average rent in Camden: £2019
- Average flat price in Manchester city centre: £184,100
- Average flat price in Camden: £575,730
- Consumer Prices in Manchester are 21% lower than in London
- Consumer Prices Including Rent in Manchester are 30% lower than in London
- Rent Prices in Manchester are 40% lower than in London
- Restaurant Prices in Manchester are 61% lower than in London
- Groceries Prices in Manchester are 76% lower than in London
Could the relatively cheaper cost of living be a reason why manchester is great for creatives? Does it give Mancunian creatives space to breathe and room for creativity?
Creative Initiatives
Manchester is full of great initiatives and networks designed to help creative individuals and businesses thrive and grow. Whether it is School of Thought, an intensive training programme for creative professionals in Manchester, Shillington Graphic Design Bootcamp, the BIMA the voice of digital and tech (and a network of like minded people) or Handle This! our networking and learning initiative for Account Handlers in the creative industries.
Two+Two is a yearly event bringing together marketing and creative students with industry mentors to tackle a live brief, or The MPA – a not for profit organisation who have created a rich and useful community of creatively minded people.
As you can see, creativity drenches this city, more so than our famed Manchester rain. Those are just a few reasons why Manchester is a great place for creatives but we would love you to hop over to our Twitter and tell us about anything we missed.