Wednesday 24 October 2018 8:07 am | Updated: Tuesday 21 May 2019 4:21 pm

DEBATE: With new research showing Manchester’s rapid growth, is the capital’s tech bubble bursting?

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With new research showing Manchester’s rapid growth, is the capital’s tech bubble bursting?

Dominic Harvey, director at CWJobs, says YES.

London may steal all the headlines, but as Tuesday’s figures show, Manchester is becoming an ever more dominant force for the tech sector – and the race to secure the UK’s top talent is really on.

Manchester’s strong tech educational institutions and the more appealing work-life balance it offers make it an attractive alternative.

Investment by the government in infrastructure and communications has proven fruitful, although more can still be done. We’ve seen high-profile organisations like the BBC relocate, and I expect that more investment will only see this number grow, especially once northern cities are better connected.

Moreover, 50 per cent of IT decision-makers have considered opening additional offices or moving altogether to attract the best tech workers, indicating that London is no longer the talent stronghold it once was.

London needs to tackle this issue head-on to ensure it does not get left behind. But this is great news for the UK. We need more hubs seeded throughout to strengthen our position as a base for technical innovation and progress.

Rob Coyne, general manager of Hootsuite EMEA, says NO.

London is home to more than a third of Europe’s unicorn tech firms and tops the list of global destinations for tech talent. Companies like Zoopla represent some of the UK’s top exits, and the pluckiest London-based startups such as World Remit are gaining widespread interest as their growth accelerates.

London also boasts some of the most influential tech investors. The likes of Brent Hoberman, chairman of Founders Factory and founder of Lastminute.com, now spends his time investing in the city’s hottest talent through his incubator – and he’s certainly not alone.

Tech entrepreneurs choose London because the opportunities are endless, and businesses are looking to the capital’s pool of talent to create the next big thing, from artificial intelligence to biotech. From our London office, we continue to see companies investing in technology as a great way to accelerate their growth. Manchester’s progress is really impressive, but London is thriving – and I only see this continuing.