Local Franchise Opportunities in Manchester

Why should I launch my Franchise in Manchester?

Last year Manchester recorded the highest start up rates within the whole of the North West of England, demonstrating the huge appeal and resources available for those seeking to set up their franchise within this territory. The demand for launching in Manchester is so high that there are already visions of transforming Manchester into the “Shoreditch of the North”, Is it time you considered Manchester as possible location to launch your new Franchise business?

Manchester is renowned for it’s creative and digital business and has resulted in neighbouring Salford being nicknamed ‘Media City’. A huge bonus to launching your franchise within Manchester is the fact that you will have access to some unique talent as Manchester currently boasts the biggest university campus in Europe and consists of five universities in total. This presents a perfect opportunity to scour the top young talent to come in and help to maintain your vision within your Franchise. Due to the huge demand in Media, Manchester has now been the largest city economy outside of London that provides a strong business support package, perfect for anyone looking to launch a Franchise within this potential franchise territory.

You wouldn’t be the only one seeking to launch your franchise within Manchester, oh no! With a population that currently exceeds 550,000, Manchester witnessed the largest start-up rate of any city in the North West, that emphasises the thirst for business growth within Manchester.

Travel and Links to London

Manchester is fortunate to have excellent transport links that includes the impressive Manchester Airport, third in size to only Gatwick and Heathrow. This all helps if you have international clients or your Franchisor is based overseas and you need to visit for training or conferences… Despite being in excess of 200 miles away from London, the travel time from Manchester to London Euston only takes two hours and there are plans underway to shorten this time to just one hour if the High Speed Rail 2 project receives the go ahead. The M60 motorway is perfectly designed to allow you to get in and out of Manchester within a sufficient timeframe, to ensure you can manage your potential client’s needs.

Are there ready made offices to launch my franchise in?

You’re in luck as the Manchester franchise territory has a vast amount of options for prospective owners seeking to launch their respective franchises, be it office or retails space, they have everything to cater your requirements.

Such developers as Bruntwood, who operate a co-working development within the city centre; complete with roof terrace and digital are space to run your franchise within Manchester. MediaCity is actually offering six-month rent free packages for budding game developer freelancers and start-ups from the North-West, could you take advantage of this with your franchise your launch in Manchester?

Other major city centre developments include;

• 15,000 sq. foot flexible work and event space Headspace Group
• The two million sq ft mixed-use One First Street
• The three million sq ft Greengate Embankment initiative (also mixed use)
• The 4 million sq ft NOMA, and Citylabs
• A redevelopment of the former Royal Eye Hospital intended for biomedical start-ups.
• The Arndale Centre is the main shopping centre in central Manchester
• The Trafford Centre, located on the outskirts of the city, contains more than two million sq ft of retail space.
• Manchester Business Park
• Carrington Business Park
• Atlas Business Park
• The Greater Manchester Investment Fund (GMIF) – a similar scheme to that of the North West Fund and is designed to encourage business growth and job creation within the Manchester franchise territory. Loans of between £500,000 and £5m are available to eligible businesses having difficulty accessing traditional formats of financing to launch and maintain their franchise.
• Business Finance Solutions (BFS) – will aid businesses and franchises with access to funds from £500 to £25,000 to equity finance up to £4m, as well as export finance of between £3,000 and £500,000.

In terms of retail,

• The Arndale Centre is the main shopping centre in central Manchester
• The Trafford Centre, located on the outskirts of the city, contains more than two million sq ft of retail space.
• Manchester Business Park
• Carrington Business Park
• Atlas Business Park
• The Greater Manchester Investment Fund (GMIF) – a similar scheme to that of the North West Fund and is designed to encourage business growth and job creation within the Manchester franchise territory. Loans of between £500,000 and £5m are available to eligible businesses having difficulty accessing traditional formats of financing to launch and maintain their franchise.
• Business Finance Solutions (BFS) – will aid businesses and franchises with access to funds from £500 to £25,000 to equity finance up to £4m, as well as export finance of between £3,000 and £500,000.

Access to Business Support

As previously mentioned, Manchester has become known as the Digital and creative start-up hub of the North, with MediaCity the epicentre for this thriving scene. As well as the previously mentioned available office space, the complex also offers a number of studios and Low-cost business space can be found in one of a number of business parks, both inside and outside the city centre. Is now the time you looked at businesses for sale within the Manchester Franchise Territory?

Business Parks;

In terms of Business support, the EU-backed Business & IP Centre, that is based at Manchester Central Library and this hub looks to support start-ups across the North West with space, resources and free workshops for both start ups or established franchise.

Anyone looking at businesses for sale in Manchester or seeking to launch their franchise in Manchester will benefit from the North West Fund that provides debt and equity funding for businesses, with investments starting from £50,000.

On top of this, launching your franchise within the Manchester Franchise territory would entitle you to a wide range of investment and loan funds including;

If you’re based in the North West then Manchester really does offer a unique territory to really push the launch of your franchise.

Please click here to view other franchise opportunities within Manchester