Summers Coming - with law firms eyeing the North, the future's looking bright for Manchester

Posted in Latest News on 18 Jun 2015

Political will, coupled with a drive to lower costs and exploit graduate populations, has seen the Manchester legal scene set to explode.  Indeed barely a conversation about growth will pass without a comment on how devolution, North-shoring or the extended transport links will propel Manchester forward over the next 10 years.  The City has taken note – legal services is entering a new technological era and as we enter this new process driven age, particularly in commercial transactional services, the need to have 1000+ employees employed in the City seems a little absurd.

Okay, so the term 'low cost centre' is not particularly flattering to the North West, and though it is true that firms will make savings of around 33% by hiring the same member of staff in Manchester rather than the City, with the rise in demand for specialist roles in the City will Manchester be on hand to bridge the gap and cover the supply?

There are also indications that the region is emerging as a genuine alternative for both business and Practice; you’ll find many a BBC executive, now donning a flat cap, admit that the region is an attractive alternative to London - not least because the Peak & Lake district provides plenty of space for them to walk their newly acquired whippets.  As our 'Guide to Manchester' points out that there is now genuinely exciting legal work in Manchester, great schools, a thriving social scene and free from the drivers peculiar to London, there is a broad range of accessibly priced housing stock.

If the north does exploit the new opportunities being presented, it is clear that Manchester will become more than just a cost alternative - you may even be able to enter American soil from Manchester airport soon, with the MEN reporting that US immigration have approved Manchester airport as a ‘priority base to host security pre-clearance - known to cuts queues, woo airlines and boost business.'

With a growing divide between the City and the rest of the country, is there now actually a genuine opportunity for the North to prosper not just in the shadow of the City but against it?

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