Chris Barker (Manchester Money)

“Look up and there are cranes and dozens of new skyscrapers. Look down and there are thousands of young workers, graduates and apprentices, local and global, who work in offices and facilities, that were simply not there a decade ago.” The BBC’s economics editor @faisalislam has explored Greater Manchester’s exceptional growth over the past decade and some of reasons behind it. Greater Manchester is the UK's fastest-growing city region since 2015, with average growth at double the rate of the rest of the UK. The productivity gap with London is narrowing and Manchester’s city centre population has skyrocketed. Decades of long‑term strategy, public-private collaboration and a sense of ambition are now paying dividends, the piece says. Students brought here by our outstanding universities are increasingly choosing to stay for the jobs, quality of life and vibrant culture and nightlife. Sustained investment in public transport and skills is helping our people access the opportunities on offer. All this creates the right environment for businesses to flourish. The piece points to major employers like BNY, IBM and Booking. com, and shares the perspectives of local leaders from Hip Pop and On the Beach on why this is the place to be. Challenges remain, but Greater Manchester's growth shows the returns of "ambition, boundless optimism, and sense of long-term strategy". Read the full piece through the link in the comments 👇