Manchester is the UK’s second biggest technology hub, according to a new analysis of the UK’s job market by Accenture. It’s behind only London.
Accenture’s Tech Talent Tracker, which analyses LinkedIn’s Professional Network data, has found that Manchester is one of the UK’s most sought-after locations for tech talent. Over 11,000 professionals in emerging technology are based in the city and 6,000 jobs are currently being advertised.
Manchester’s digital turnover is £3.2bn per year, making it the largest hotspot for tech outside of London. It has an existing supply of talent that’s ready to service five emerging technologies – Data Analytics, Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Extended Reality and Quantum Computing – which stands the city in great stead for the future.
However, there’s still a big gap before Manchester catches up with London. The UK technology sector saw £27 billion of investment between 2013 and 2018. But the research suggests most of this has flooded to London, which 37% of emerging tech professionals cite as their current location.
Chris Gray, managing director Accenture Manchester commented: “Availability of talent is one of the biggest factors in establishing a successful technology business, which makes Manchester a very appealing location for organisations looking to grow. We believe these emerging technologies are crucial for the future of British business, so finding locations with people that can drive all of these areas is a high priority.
“The UK’s technology sector is currently growing one-and-a-half times faster than other industries, so there’s a huge opportunity to close the divide. Manchester is a real contender and benefits from its university population and the innovation hubs that several companies have opened in and around the city. There are strong signals for both tech professionals and companies alike that there are exciting opportunities ahead.”
