INVEST MANCHESTER Monthly | September 2026

Published on

September 9, 2026

September is shaping up to be a busy month for Greater Manchester, with major events taking place across our creative, advanced manufacturing, financial services and property sectors.

Things get underway on 8 September with the GM Creative Industries Forward Look at HOME, which will bring together businesses and partners from across the sector and mark the launch of a new Greater Manchester creative industries campaign. The following day sees the start of Manchester Fashion Week, returning to the city for four days of runway shows, talks and industry events, while also providing the first full-scale showcase of Campfield Studios as a new production and events venue.

On 17 September, we’ll bring partners together for the Invest Manchester at MIPIM 2027 launch event, where we will outline plans for the year ahead and discuss opportunities to support Greater Manchester’s presence at the world’s leading property conference.

September will also see Invest Manchester represented at several major international industry events. We’ll be attending CAMX in Atlanta to strengthen connections with companies in the global composites and advanced materials sector, and colleagues from our Financial, Professional and Business Services team will be in Miami for SIBOS.

Closer to home, a report published to mark 25 years of Manchester Airport’s Runway 2 highlighted the scale of its contribution to the North’s economy. The airport now generates £9.5 billion in annual economic impact and provides connections to more than 200 destinations worldwide, underlining the importance of international connectivity for businesses across the region.

August was a chance to celebrate cable manufacturer Amokabel which recently marked 125 years of continuous production in Leigh. The company supplies specialist cables to the aerospace industry and remains a great example of the engineering expertise and industrial heritage that continue to underpin the city region’s advanced manufacturing sector.

Looking ahead to October, the Cambridge x Manchester Partnership Innovation Summit and Investor Summit will form part of The University of Manchester Innovation Festival, bringing together researchers, founders, investors and policymakers from two of the UK’s leading innovation ecosystems.

Manchester Fintech Orchestr Earns SBC Awards Recognition

Manchester-based payments technology company Orchestr has been recognised as a finalist in the Payment Innovation of the Year category at the SBC Awards 2026. The nomination highlights the company’s AI-powered payment orchestration platform, which helps businesses improve transaction performance through intelligent routing and automation.

Campfield Studios Debuts as Manchester Fashion Week Takes Centre Stage

Manchester Fashion Week will provide the first major showcase for Campfield Studios, a new 24,000 sq. ft production and events destination in Manchester’s St. John’s district. Designed to support media, broadcast, fashion, e-commerce and content production, the venue combines studio facilities, event space and collaborative work environments under one roof.

SafetyCulture Rebrands as Mitti as Manchester Tech Firm Expands AI Offer

Global operations platform SafetyCulture has marked a decade in Manchester by rebranding as Mitti and launching new AI-powered capabilities for frontline businesses. Operating from its EMEA headquarters in Manchester, the company now serves 18,000 UK organisations and is expanding beyond workplace safety into a broader operations platform spanning manufacturing, retail, construction and logistics.

Victoria Riverside Reaches Major Milestone with 634 Homes Delivered

Far East Consortium (FEC) has completed Victoria Riverside, delivering 634 new homes as part of the £4 billion Victoria North regeneration programme. The completion marks a significant step forward for the Red Bank neighbourhood, one of the first areas being brought forward within the wider 15,000-home masterplan.

Oldham Moves Forward with £28m Prince’s Gate Development

Construction is underway on the first phase of Prince’s Gate, a £28 million town centre regeneration project that will deliver 75 affordable homes in the heart of Oldham. Located next to the Mumps Metrolink stop, the development forms part of wider plans to transform a prominent brownfield site into a new gateway neighbourhood with completion scheduled for summer 2028.

Bolton Approves Plans to Accelerate Town Centre Regeneration

Bolton Council has approved a series of measures to support investment, regeneration and town centre renewal. The decision includes the acquisition of the HSBC building in Victoria Square, enabling a more comprehensive redevelopment of the flagship Crompton Place site. The move supports Bolton’s long-term ambition to create a vibrant mixed-use destination and strengthen confidence among residents, businesses and investors.