Hi Everyone
So, it’s finally happened. After years of acrimony, barbed insults, and sniping on X (Twitter), some infamous brothers have finally reconciled. No, I’m not referencing Harry and Wills. I’m talking about those warring Mancunian siblings, Liam and Noel Gallagher. Hatchets have been buried. Truces drawn, and bygones have become bygones. Assuming this ceasefire holds, Oasis are officially back and playing a series of mega-gigs in 2025.
They plan to do six gigs in North Manchester’s Heaton Park, and the frenzy for tickets will be epic. Diehard fans from the 90s and those who never saw these renowned sons of a Burnage council estate will congregate in their thousands to celebrate this seismic event. Naturally, the economic impact will be huge for the band, but there are also immense benefits to the local economy. Plus, we’ll also see a vast swell of interest in Manchester as our most notorious musical icons take the stage.
I CAN’T WAIT!!
Let’s Look Forward With Optimism
About 18 months ago, I wrote about Manchester as a great city for business. Now, the spotlight is on us again; I thought it was time to revisit this theme, as things have gotten a hell of a lot better.
Since devolution a decade ago, Manchester has experienced an almost continuous growth phase. It is now in pole position to be Britain’s “second city” and is pushing forward as a beacon of political, cultural, and commercial innovation.
From plate glass office blocks to trendy, flexible working spaces, Manchester is an unbeatable place for businesses of all sizes to establish themselves. In 2020, Tech Nation hailed Manchester as Europe’s fastest-growing tech hub, acknowledging the city’s expanding digital infrastructure.
International companies like Amazon and PWC have a significant presence in Manchester, driving output and employment forecasts and, in the process, growing faster than London. GM benefits from the largest student population in Europe, who, after graduation, provide local employers with a well-educated and creative workforce to drive Manchester’s continued success.
To Be Where There’s Life
Culturally, Manchester remains at the cutting edge, but this reaches far beyond the cliches about world-class football teams and the “Madchester” music scene.
With new art installations like Factory International, a new level of sophistication, depth, and breadth infuses the scene. The eclectic content of the respected Manchester International Festival neatly illustrates this. Indeed, the city now celebrates its cultural catalysts in the annual Manchester Culture Awards. These artistic landmarks are now part of Manchester’s identity and go to enhance its global reputation. And if the benefits of devolution and local decision-making can be fully unleashed, the sky’s the limit.
It’s Gettin’ Better (Man!!)
With the return of a Labour government, the city’s influence will surely grow. Greater Manchester has 27 MPs, most of whom are Labour and include some Cabinet-heavy hitters. Most formidable, we have ‘Ange’ – Angela Rayner – the Stockport-born deputy prime minister who will fly the flag for Greater Manchester as a critical player in the UK’s future prosperity.
The impressive Manchester skyline is the biggest clue to the city’s rapid development. Manchester looks increasingly like a US metropolis than a post-industrial northern town. The construction boom is reshaping the urban landscape dramatically. I hope that it doesn’t overshadow the historic artefacts that remain from being the world’s first industrial city, as they are equally crucial to the Mancunian story.
I’m told that the city centre was once deserted in the evening, save for small bands of revellers going to the pubs and clubs. On some mid-week nights, the city was strangely quiet.
Not anymore. People now have homes in the city centre and live and socialise near the workplace. Since 2014, 20,000 residences have been created, 2,000 new hotel rooms added, and many more are planned.
Manchester is well on its way to becoming a “15-minute city,” which sounds pretty good to me despite what conspiracy-minded types would have you believe.
All Around The World
Manchester is the only UK city outside London to be featured in JLL’s “Innovation Geographies” list, which ranks cities that are trendsetters in the knowledge economy. Manchester sits alongside luminaries like Taipei and Milan, underlining its growing importance as a centre of innovation and a new mindset about how we will all work in the modern economy.
That’s why Manchester offers the perfect blend of opportunity and quality of life. With access to Manchester International Airport and regular fast train connections to London, the city is no longer an isolated northern outpost but a surefire place for businesses to invest confidently.
And let’s remember some of the other towns in Greater Manchester. Trafford, for example, is one of the most desirable places to live in the UK (it’s home to Manchester United, so there is no surprise there). DJ Unabomber described Stockport as ‘das neue Berlin’ for its burgeoning, lively nightlife. The town recently opened ‘The Occulus,’ its acclaimed transport Interchange. It was one of the most significant civil engineering projects in the UK.
The benefits of central Manchester’s revival are now spreading to the whole city region, meaning more jobs, a broader cultural palette, and exciting opportunities. This can only mean a better existence for those who live and work throughout the region.
(Greenhouse) Gas Panic!
Or not as it happens. A focus on sustainability contributes to Manchester’s success. Without a ULEZ in sight (yet), the Eden building, with its lush living wall and emphasis on eco-friendly design, shows Manchester cares about the planet. Plus, stated political goals include decarbonising buildings and achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2038. The city’s focus on sustainability is essential to young workers, who prefer employers who share their environmental values.
Be Here Now
As Manchester continues to climb the international ranks, the future looks bright for a city carving out its unique vision of the future. Informed by its rich history as a pioneering place for business, Manchester deservedly is making its mark on the global stage.
Does an Oasis homecoming gig enhance this? Well, it can’t do any harm, and the money and recognition the gigs will attract to the city’s businesses should not be sniffed at.
Still, even without this unexpected return of one of the greatest bands the region has produced, the energy and optimism in the city are palpable, and as the song goes: ‘things can only get better’. That’s why I’m super-proud to be a Manc, to base my business here and to support my many local clients, who contribute to the city’s ongoing success.
Part Of The Queue
OK, so now our only problem is getting tickets. When they go on sale tomorrow, the phone lines and websites of the leading agencies will be red hot, and quite a few redial and refresh buttons will wear out before they’re declared sold out. That won’t take long, I expect.
So good luck. I hope you get a ticket. I’ll be trying for a few, so if all goes well, I’ll see you there.
All the best
Adam
PS: If you can name all the Oasis albums I drew my section titles from, you’ll win a special prize—another newsletter in about a month!