The debate over which is England’s second city has been ongoing for many years now. Obviously, London is the capital of the country and the main source of global income. Unless something very drastic happens, that is not going to change anytime soon. London’s status as one of the world’s most important financial centres is undisputed. However, the identity of England’s second city is not as clear.
A strong economy
When talk of a second city status arises, two candidates invariably come into the equation – Birmingham and Manchester. Birmingham would take the title if size was the most important equation but, in business terms, Manchester is currently leading the way.
While many other cities struggled during the financial downturn which gripped the nation and most economies across the world, Manchester remained relatively steady in economic terms. Between the years 2002 and 2012, the growth of the economy of the Greater Manchester South area was almost 3% above the national average. Of all the industrialised cities in the world, Manchester has the ninth-lowest tax rate. There are certainly lessons to be learned from the intelligent business acumen displayed by Manchester’s business leaders.
The emergence of new businesses in the city over recent years has been a prominent factor in Manchester’s strong financial performance over the past decade. This influx of fresh business opportunities is excellent news for those in the B2B telemarketing sector. For any telemarketing company Manchester is a haven of opportunity. The number of new businesses in the city is just one reason why companies should be shifting their telemarketing campaigns to Manchester.
In economic terms, the Greater Manchester South borough is the largest outside of London. The Globalization and World Cities Research Network officially ranks Manchester as the second most globally influential UK city after the capital. Additionally, Manchester has the fastest-growing population of all cities in the country. These are all compelling reasons for focusing business efforts on this city on the rise.
Globally significant
In recent times, the strongest business sectors in terms of annual growth in Manchester are property and business services (such as telemarketing). More traditional activities such as construction and production remain prevalent but are now losing ground to newer industries such as IT.
The rise of Manchester as a centre for business has also coincided with the fact that a number of large corporations have built major headquarters in the city. These include corporate giants such as Siemens, Umbro, Kellogg’s and Brother. The decision of the BBC to relocate much of its broadcasting facilities to Manchester has been another substantial shot in the arm for the city.
If things continue to move in the right direction for Manchester, the argument over which place should be classed as England’s Second City will soon be settled. Manchester’s standing as a global economic centre has never been higher and the opportunities for local businesses to thrive have never been so widespread. Manchester is most certainly a city on the rise.
