QA Higher Education, a leading UK higher education provider, is deepening its presence in Manchester by expanding its footprint at St James’, a landmark innovation hub owned by Bruntwood SciTech
lynchpin of the St James’ community since 2015, QA Higher Education has signed a new 10-year lease that will see it take a further 10,000 sq ft, bringing its total footprint in the city to 37,000 sq ft which the company will move into in October.
Working in close partnership with UK universities, QA Higher Education delivers more than 100 foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes across in-demand skills subjects like Cybersecurity, Computer Science and Business Management.
Located at the gateway to Manchester’s Oxford Road Corridor – an internationally significant knowledge quarter and innovation cluster – St James’ has become home to a collective of education providers who are supporting the growth of Manchester’s highly skilled, in demand, talent pipeline, as well as a number of tech and R&D-led businesses, with businesses based there benefiting from its close proximity – and direct connections via Bruntwood SciTech’s partnerships – to the city’s leading academic institutions and clinical partners.
QA Higher Education’s recommitment to St James’ places them at the centre of this vibrant cluster and enables them to continue developing leading degree programmes from the heart of one of the UK’s fastest-growing innovation ecosystems.
St James’ is an iconic 280,000 sq ft Edwardian Baroque building in the city centre with a rich history dating back to 1912, when it was constructed as the purpose-built headquarters of the Calico Printers Association – an amalgamation of textile printing companies and merchants. A reminder of Manchester’s indelible relationship with the cotton industry and role in the Industrial Revolution, the space today is a thriving hub for fast growing innovation-led and innovation-supporting businesses, complete with an abundance of flexible workspaces that supports businesses as they grow.
Simon Nelson, Chief Executive at QA Higher Education said:
“At QA Higher Education, we’re delighted to further deepen our commitment to Manchester, a city renowned for its rich culture of innovation and ambition. Our expansion at St James’ reflects our belief in the city’s extraordinary talent and dynamic ecosystem, and enables us to help more individuals unlock their career potential. By working alongside leading partners such as Bruntwood SciTech and the broader community, we look forward to playing an even greater role in Manchester’s ongoing growth story.”
