Greater Manchester cyber ecosystem
Greater Manchester: Leading the way in Cyber
A region with a £5 billion digital economy and a strong cyber ecosystem is at the heart of that.
Greater Manchester presents a unique opportunity for cyber - a place with the ambition and strong civic mandate, to take an approach to digital that ensures no one gets left behind. Helping everyone to live healthier and happier lives by being able to navigate through, access and benefit from an increasingly digital world.
Why Greater Manchester?
Greater Manchester is a strategic partner to the UK national security mission and is home to an expanding network of intelligence, defence, and cyber security organisations and capabilities.
- In 2024, 49% of all UK external cyber security investment was secured by the North West.
- The North West’s cyber workforce is projected to grow from 12,000 to 30,000 FTEs by 2035, unlocking up to £2.7bn in annual GVA.
- Greater Manchester’s vision is to become a world-leading responsible cyber ecosystem driven by inclusivity and diversity for the safety, security, and prosperity of Greater Manchester and the UK.
A key priority for GCHQ is its growth in the North West of England.
As an important player in one of the fastest growing tech regions in Europe, this location allows GCHQ to build new partnerships with industry, academia, and the public sector alike that will help us to crack more national security problems of the future.
Connecting with and recruiting from the North West’s multi-cultural communities will enable GCHQ to better reflect the country we serve.
As we approach the 2030’s, a third of GCHQ’s people will be working in Manchester, Lancashire and the surrounds, at the heart of the Government’s Digital Ambition and as part of the National Cyber Force’s (NCF) Defence and Intelligence Partnership.
GCHQ in Manchester and the Northwest
Our Growing Ecosystem
Greater Manchester has harnessed its unique constellation of strengths, partnerships, and talent, taking a leading role in the growth of cyber in the UK.
Driven by ambitious partnerships with national security organisations, record-breaking investment, a thriving SME market, world-class research institutions, and deep and diverse talent pools, Greater Manchester boasts a highly-networked and well-integrated cyber ecosystem.
Our Cyber Advisory Group sits at the heart of our ecosystem, strengthened by our position at the heart of the North West Cyber Corridor. The vibrancy of the city-region is demonstrated by over 8,000 attendees at 127 events hosted in the DiSH digital security and innovation hub, and its member businesses raising millions of pounds annually.
As Europe’s fastest-growing tech economy, Greater Manchester is designed to deliver impact at a scale and pace not found elsewhere, positioning itself at the nexus of a dynamic and fast-expanding UK cyber sector. The North West has attracted 49% of UK external investment into cyber security, supported by MIDAS, a dedicated inward investment agency for Greater Manchester.
The city-region is home to an expanding network of intelligence, defence, and cyber security organisations, reinforcing its role as a strategic partner to the UK national security mission.
Cutting-edge Research and Innovation
Greater Manchester is home to a vibrant research and innovation ecosystem, with several institutions contributing distinctive and complementary expertise across cyber. The University of Manchester, an NCSC-recognised Academic Centre of Excellence for Cyber Security Research, hosts a community of almost 2,000 digital researchers and the Centre for Digital Trust and Society – the UK’s only cyber security centre led from social sciences, focused on understanding how human behaviours influence cyber security.
The city leverages its expertise in areas like cyber security, digital health, and digital manufacturing to attract further investment, making it a hub for emerging and growing digital industries and digital pioneers.
Developing Skills and Talent
With 10 North West universities offering cyber-related courses, the region is seeing a 15% year-on-year increase in graduates with digital and cyber qualifications. This pipeline of highly skilled talent is supported by strong collaboration between universities, industry, and government, ensuring students are equipped with the real-world skills needed by employers.
Greater Manchester is also trailblazing technical education reforms. Through our devolved powers, we’re delivering initiatives like the Greater Manchester Baccalaureate (MBacc) – an ambitious plan to create a genuine and equal alternative to university, focused on careers in key growth sectors including digital.
From September 2025, several Greater Manchester colleges are planning to offer the Digital T Level (Cyber Security Pathway), giving young people the chance to gain hands-on industry experience alongside technical qualifications.
We’re also proud to be part of the CyberFirst Schools programme, working with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to strengthen cyber learning at secondary level and create early inspiration for future careers.
