Business leader of England's North West, Manchester is a thriving hub of diverse industries, including retail, entertainment, manufacturing, logistics, and legal and financial services.
Economic overview and key employers
A number of large global companies are based in Manchester, including The Cooperative Group, Umbro, Adidas, Siemens, and Kellogg's. Indeed, Manchester is host to 65 companies that appear on the FTSE 100 List. In fact, a 2007 report cited Manchester at the top of the economic growth list for cities in the UK.
There are also a number of development projects under way in Manchester at present. For example a project called NOMA has begun; a 4 million square foot development in the centre of the city, which will be host to new accommodation and office space. Manchester is also running a 'Smart City' scheme, worth an estimated £1.5 billion, which will support transport redevelopment and the refitting of residential houses for the purposes of sustainability. In short, Manchester offers a wealth of opportunities for keen young graduates, and cost of living is also lower than in London, which is also worth considering.
There are a number of recruitment agencies experienced in working with graduates in the city, which can be incredibly useful to both candidates and employers. Since the recession of the last few years, up to a fifth of UK university leavers may be out of work, meaning vacancies can be heavily oversubscribed and create a lot of work for employers trying to recruit. Experienced employment agencies can match the right staff to the right jobs, saving time and money.