Taking place ahead of the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget, this Vital Topics lecture will bring together economists, policy specialists and regional stakeholders to examine the evidence behind Greater Manchester’s economic development.
The discussion will explore how devolution, long-term institutional collaboration, university-business partnerships and international investment have shaped the city region’s growth. It will also consider the challenges that remain and ask which elements of Manchester’s approach have genuinely supported productivity and inclusive growth.
With national attention focused on economic growth, industrial strategy and regional development, the event will examine whether Manchester’s experience can be applied elsewhere. It will consider what policymakers, business leaders and local institutions can learn from the Manchester Model, as well as where caution is needed when adapting it to places with different economic circumstances.