Lily Shippen Recruitment Agency | Why Manchester is the place to be

You may have seen that we have recently expanded and opened a Manchester office.  We will continue to place the highest calibre of secretarial candidates into multiple sectors as we have done in London for the past year and a half. The reason for this is not only because I myself am Manchester born and bred, but also because we believe the market to be drastically changing up here.

According to the Office for National Statistics, the population of Greater Manchester is predicted to grow to just under 3 million by 2031, with the City of Manchester alone accounting for 36% of the growth.

Manchester has always been a centre for trade and industry, notably for cotton and textiles, inspiring the nickname Cottonopolis.  Today Manchester is a dynamic, fast developing hub for finance, commerce & industry with a number of businesses choosing the great Northern city over London to open their head offices. This also applies to candidates too, with a noticeable increase in Team Assistants, Personal Assistants and Office Managers choosing to make Manchester their home.

Here are just a couple of reasons why we think Manchester is the place to be;

Work Opportunities

With companies such as Adidas, The Co-operative Group, Kellogg’s Company, UKFast, Social Chain and Williams & Glyn to name a few having their head offices in Manchester means an increased need for good staff. Companies in Manchester have been focusing on their employee satisfaction over the past 5 years and we’ve seen an increase in onsite gyms, bars and even slides in offices in Manchester as a result!

(Image: Wikipedia)

Property boom

Manchester has seen the fastest house price growth of any city in the UK – an impressive 8.8 per cent year-on-year. The city’s skyline has changed dramatically in the last decade, with 10,000 apartments now either having been granted or in the process of getting planning permission. Now may be a good time to move here as the average house price is still lower than many other cities at around £151,000, meaning that you really can get more for your money!

(Image: PA)

Fast Commute

The average Londoner spends 42 minutes commuting each day. So, if work-life balance is a big priority for you, it might be worth considering moving to Manchester where the average commute is 26 minutes.

(Image: Getty Images)

Restaurants and Bars

Manchester is not only a fantastic place to work, it’s a fantastic place to live. Manchester has a thriving independent restaurant and bar scene which is becoming increasingly exclusive. Gary Neville has recently opened Mahiki which is the third of its kind, with others in London and Dubai attracting celebs such as One Direction and Prince Harry. Top celeb hangout The Ivy, established in London, has also confirmed its Manchester opening. You will not be spoilt for choice in Manchester; from cool pop up bars to exclusive high end dining, Manchester has got it all.

(Image: Dominic Salter)