Telling our story: How place promotion is creating jobs, investment and opportunity in Greater Manchester
- Friday, September 18, 2026
- Posted By The Growth Company
Creating jobs, attracting investment and growing the economy starts long before a business chooses to invest in a place.
It starts by building relationships, showcasing opportunities and telling a compelling story about why a place is worth investing in.
At the Growth Company, we’re proud of our role in promoting Greater Manchester to investors, businesses, visitors and future talent around the world, telling the story of a city-region with global ambitions.
We’ve seen this in action this week with the launch of MIPIM 2027, and an event with Universal Studios, opening up supply chain opportunities for local businesses.
This work is about more than raising the city region's profile. It is about creating the conditions for inclusive and sustainable growth, bringing investment into Greater Manchester and ensuring the benefits are felt by people, businesses and communities.
Greater Manchester is one of the UK's most dynamic city-regions, with strengths in innovation, advanced manufacturing, digital, life sciences and the visitor economy.
Through Invest Manchester, Marketing Manchester and GM Business Growth Hub, GC works with partners across the city-region to showcase these strengths to investors, businesses, visitors and decision-makers around the world.
The launch of Invest Manchester at MIPIM 2026 marked an important moment in strengthening Greater Manchester's international investment proposition, presenting a clear and compelling case for why businesses and investors should choose the city-region. Building on that momentum, the launch of MIPIM 2027, brought public and private sector leaders together to set out how Greater Manchester will showcase a new generation of investment, regeneration and growth opportunities on the global stage.
But MIPIM is just one example of a wider programme of work designed to build Greater Manchester's reputation, attract investment and unlock growth opportunities throughout the year.
Successful place promotion is not measured by awareness alone. Its value lies in the impact it creates.
Over the last three years, we have helped secure 188 investment projects across Greater Manchester, supporting business expansion, innovation and long-term economic growth.
The recently announced trade mission to India reflects the importance of building international connections that help businesses access new markets, develop partnerships and explore export opportunities.
Closer to home, engagement around Universal Studios is helping local businesses understand potential supply chain opportunities linked to one of the significant future investments in the UK visitor economy.
Together, these activities help attract new opportunities into Greater Manchester and ensure local businesses are well placed to benefit from them.
Place promotion is not an end in itself. It is a way of creating opportunities that improve lives and strengthen communities.
When investment is secured, businesses can grow. When major developments move forward, supply chains benefit. When conferences and events attract visitors, local businesses see increased spending and economic activity.
Over the last three years, we have helped create and safeguard more than 13,000 jobs, ensuring that investment and economic growth translate into tangible opportunities for residents.
Place promotion has also helped generate £291m in economic impact through campaigns and conferences, demonstrating the value of attracting visitors, events and investment to Greater Manchester.
These outcomes represent more than statistics. They represent people finding work, businesses expanding, skills being developed and communities benefiting from investment in their local economy.
The result is a stronger, more resilient economy that is delivering inclusive and sustainable growth that reaches all communities.
Find out how the Growth Company supports investment, business growth and economic development across Greater Manchester: