Manchester Digital has launched a Manifesto for the Northern Tech Economy ahead of the mayoral elections scheduled for May 2nd.
The Manifesto emphasizes the untapped potential of the North, highlighting that Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, and Sheffield have collectively garnered over £1.1 billion in investment over the past five years and have a student population of more than 250,000.
Alison Ross, chair of Manchester Digital’s board and chief people and operations director at Auto Trader, remarked, “With the right investment, organization, and collaboration, northern cities can emerge as Britain’s largest tech hub. As the representative of the region with the most significant digital economy and advanced devolved political structures in the North, the Mayor of Greater Manchester should initiate the formation of a Northern Tech Nexus aimed at establishing a new global tech ecosystem to rival the dominance of London and the South East.”
The Manifesto outlines three core themes:
1. Establish a Northern Tech Nexus involving academic, civil, and business leaders from Northern cities to create a tech ecosystem and host an annual Northern Tech Summit that brings together global experts and companies.
2. Enhance innovation and growth by supporting tech start-ups and providing assistance to students in the sector.
3. Promote digital talent through apprenticeships and initiatives like Mbacc, encouraging more individuals to enter the fintech industry.
As the elections approach, the Manifesto urges the new mayor to leverage the fintech growth opportunities available in the North. Andy Burnham, the current mayor of Greater Manchester, is campaigning for a third term with the Labour Party.
Katie Gallagher OBE, managing director at Manchester Digital, expressed, “We see an opportunity to establish a strong northern tech ecosystem with Greater Manchester at its center. We aim to collaborate closely with the Mayor to develop a unified northern approach to tech growth and innovation, capitalizing on the core strengths of various city-regions to foster future growth on a larger scale. The recommendations within our Manifesto focus on achieving that objective while enhancing innovation and skills in the process.”