Australian investors should feel at home in Greater Manchester, a top tech boss has told BusinessLive – and the city has been described as a great place for investors to use as a springboard to the 海角视频 and Europe.
Elizabeth Vega joined Australia’s top diplomat in the 海角视频, and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, for a city centre summit to promote greater business links between Australia and Greater Manchester.
They heard about how companies such as tech unicorn SafetyCulture have already chosen to expand in Manchester – while organisers from the Australia-United Kingdom Chamber of Commerce hope there will be more to come thanks to the , which came into effect in 2023 and removed most tariffs on trade between the two countries. Mr Burnham said Australian companies should see Greater Manchester as "the 海角视频’s growth opportunity".
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Elizabeth Vega said that even in 1992 when she was looking for somewhere to found her company in the 海角视频, Manchester came top of the list thanks to its universities, transport links and cost of living.
Today her digital transformation business Informed Solutions has gone global from its Altrincham base, employing more than 150 in Greater Manchester and with offices in London, Edinburgh, Malaysia and Australia. In 2020 she was awarded an OBE for services to international trade and to digital transformation, while this year she was from The Open University.
Asked why Australians should consider investing in Manchester, she told BusinessLive: “The first part is you will feel like you're at home. Culturally, Aussies and Northerners/Mancunians, we have very similar values.
“The front end is a bit different – I think Manchester and Northern culture is a little bit more introverted, a little shyer, and Aussies are a little more extroverted. But the back end is very similar – we're not arrogant people, but there's a sense of pride, and a sense of pride in achievement.
“Fom that point of view when you land in Manchester… you feel like you're at home, feel a sense of belonging and inclusion.
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“The second part of it is just the practical aspects of building a business. You've got some of the most fabulous universities in Manchester, and also it's a smaller community so you can get involved – we have academic alliances with most of the universities, you can feed back into course development, you can offer internships and can pitch to graduates to come and join your business.
“You're also really well serviced by public transport, as the rail links get you almost anywhere in the 海角视频 within a couple of hours. And there's an international airport with all the leading airlines, all the top tier airlines, so you're connected to the rest of the world.
“Also, I think it's a great landing pad if you want to grow into Europe, because it's quite familiar (in terms of) rule of law and culture – and then you can use that as your hub to grow into Europe if that's your ambition.”
'It's high time we got out of London'
As well as the Manchester Connect event, held at KPMG’s Manchester office, the 海角视频-Australia Chamber also held its Young Professionals event in Manchester for the first time this week.
Richard Basil-Jones, Chamber CEO, said the events were about building connections between Australia and the 海角视频 beyond the capital.
He said: “Simply stated, London is not the 海角视频 and the 海角视频 is not London. The title of our chamber is Australia-United Kingdom, and it's high time we got out of London, where we've spent far too much of our time, and got out to the very very important cities and regions of the 海角视频.
“I have to say our High Commissioner and our trade. and investment organisations back in London have made big, big efforts to do that and frankly, we're following their lead.”
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Stephen Smith, Australia’s High Commissioner to the 海角视频, said he and his team were working to expand their reach beyond London to cities including Manchester and Bristol and to the nations of the 海角视频.
He said: “The Australian economy starts and finishes at the capital cities of the respective states. Each of those economies is slightly different. Each of them has different synergies with Manchester, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow…”
He said there were “similarities and complementarities” between Manchester and Melbourne, for example.
Manchester City Council leader Bev Craig said she was excited about the potential relationship, and said Australian firms such as SafetyCulture had already seen success in Manchester.
She said: “Businesses that come here to find their feet have grown here.”
Ms Vega joined a panel debate alongside Matt Jackson, KPMG’s head of high-growth markets, and Daniel Sheridan, founding director at communications agency Duo Consulting.
Mr Sheridan said his business worked with several Australian firms investing in Manchester and the 海角视频. He said the city had a strong talent pool and added “businesses know they don’t need to go to London to find that capacity.”
Burnham: Time to deepen Manchester-Australia relationship
The event closed with a speech from Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham.
Introducing him, host Richard Basil-Jones said: “He’s the Taylor Swift of Manchester. He’s extremely popular. He delivers to the market. The fans genuinely like him."
An amused Mayor said: “Thank you, I think… I’ll take that.”
He said the city had enjoyed a decade of growth and added: “We believe the next decade is going to be the decade. It’s going to be one of the most exciting places to be in the world.”
He added: “Young talent can have a better life here. Younger people can afford to live here. They can have a better standard of living here. The graduate jobs are here.”
Mr Burnham said the relationship between Britain and Australia was based on a great mutual understanding and respect.
Talking about a potential trade mission, he said Manchester was “ready to visit”, particularly to Melbourne, and said: “We want to get out to deepen the relationship.”
He added: “We believe, Bev and I, that Greater Manchester is the 海角视频’s growth opportunity.”
Mr Burnham said Australian firms in the green economy should also look to Greater Manchester.
He said: “We still believe that the future is clean,green energy, and public transport… As other parts of the world move away from that journey, we won’t. If that’s your journey as well, then this is your place.”
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