Starting a Business in North West England

Manchester and Liverpool anchor the UK's most dynamic northern region. Media, finance, fashion, and hospitality all strong.

At a Glance

GDP per capita

£29k

Commercial rent

£20/sq ft/yr

5yr survival rate

43%

Population

7.4M

Unique Opportunities in North West

✓MediaCity — UK's largest media cluster outside London (BBC, ITV, dock10)
✓Manchester's global Chinatown — 2nd largest in UK
✓Liverpool — fastest growing port city; Freeport status
✓Cheshire's Golden Triangle — high-net-worth residential = premium services demand

Top Sectors in North West

Hospitality & Food

3–12% net margin

Professional Services

25–45% net margin

Health & Wellness

15–35% net margin

Retail

2–8% net margin

Grant & Funding Sources

💰Greater Manchester CA
💰Liverpool City Region CA
💰Lancaster University Innovation Hub

Counties & Areas

Greater ManchesterMerseysideLancashireCheshireCumbria