Manchester crowned UK's fastest-growing tech hub — overtaking the capital

A wave of unicorns, cheaper office space and a steady talent pipeline are reshaping the North.

Manchester has officially overtaken London as the UK's fastest-growing technology cluster, according to a new report from Tech Nation released this week.

Venture capital funding into Greater Manchester start-ups rose 47% year-on-year, with three new unicorns minted in just six months — a pace not seen outside the M25 in over a decade.

Founders point to a familiar mix of factors: cheaper office space, a deep talent pool from the city's three major universities, and a council that has aggressively courted relocations from London and Dublin.

Critics caution that wage growth has not kept pace with rising rents, and warn the city risks 'importing London's worst problems' if affordable housing supply does not catch up quickly.