One of the things I find most compelling about the North West is its ability to constantly evolve. Historically, the region was one of the world’s great industrial powerhouses. Today, that same entrepreneurial spirit is being channelled into sectors such as fintech, advanced manufacturing, life sciences, artificial intelligence (AI) and clean energy.
Manchester has become one of Europe’s fastest-growing technology ecosystems, indeed the UK government is investing £310 million to build the 900,000 sq ft Manchester Digital Campus in Ancoats, all while continuing to attract major investment from global technology firms. Liverpool’s life sciences sector continues to build international credibility through clusters such as the Knowledge Quarter, while Cheshire remains a major force in chemicals, pharmaceuticals and energy innovation.
Across Greater Manchester, Atom Valley is helping position the region as a future hub for advanced manufacturing and industrial innovation, creating the infrastructure and ecosystem needed to support long-term growth, and the likes of Bolton have attracted significant investment for its strong focus on advanced automotive, electric vehicle (EV) supply chains, and defence.
What makes the region particularly powerful, in my view, is that these strengths don’t exist in isolation. The North West benefits from a connected ecosystem of universities, corporates, investors and entrepreneurs who are increasingly collaborating to turn ideas into scalable businesses. The result is a region that feels increasingly confident in its ability to produce businesses capable of growing nationally and internationally.