Tipped to become a European leader in AI innovation, Manchester is widely recognised as one of the UK’s fastest growing tech hubs outside London, bringing with it capital, talent and ambitious entrepreneurs in the process.
The city’s digital revolution is helping to level up opportunities for young people across the city, while drawing many people relocating from the South to capitalise on this growth and momentum. Amid this rapid growth, Ada the National College for digital skills, is ensuring that opportunity and innovation are accessible to everyone and ensuring that local employers can benefit from a new generation of AI-native talent
Often considered the engine room of the Northern start-up powerhouse, Manchester is experiencing a paradox – growth is creating new opportunities, yet deepening divides for some communities, especially in areas of deprivation with social mobility challenges.
To sustain this growth in a booming sector, and ensure fair and equal access to opportunities, investment in local, AI-native talent is critical. That’s exactly where Ada Manchester plays a pivotal role, by providing employers with access to diverse high-achieving early careers talent.
Ada Manchester is the National College for Digital Skills’ first campus outside London, and as such, is regionally led. Supported by the Greater Manchester Institute of Technology (GMIoT), Ada is one of six education partners of the IoT, and together, they are driving the Northern digital boom by nurturing talent right here in the North West.
Among its current apprentices, 66% are from ethnic minority backgrounds and 36% identify as female or gender non-conforming. Crucially, this commitment to inclusion goes hand in hand with academic success, with Ada apprentices outperforming the national average for achievement rate by 31%. This blend of diversity and high performance ensures employers gain access to well rounded, adaptable talent ready to thrive in complex environments.
Nurturing local talent for sustainable growth
The digital growth Manchester is experiencing is undoubtedly improving inclusion for the region’s young people, but it risks leaving behind those from disadvantaged backgrounds if skills access doesn’t keep pace.
As a champion for regional inclusion, Ada bridges the gap between education and employability, offering opportunities for people from all backgrounds, and all age groups, with apprentices ranging from 18-year-olds to mature career changers and parents. Providing equal opportunities for those from diverse backgrounds drives positive change, while giving employers access to digitally minded early-career talent ready to contribute from day one.
From 2026, Ada Manchester will launch two pioneering AI apprenticeship programmes – a groundbreaking approach given these advanced skills are rarely taught at such an early stage in education. Designed to tackle the shortage of early-stage, AI-native developers, these programmes aim to bridge the gap for businesses that currently struggle to recruit or afford experienced AI talent. These courses are being developed with input from industry experts ensuring technical relevance, they will focus on creating AI-native developers through agile apprenticeships with intensive, industry led training, with a structured pathway to architect level capability.
Taking this approach expands and broadens the regional skills base, meaning employers can more easily access local talent.
Powered by partnership: How GMIoT is enabling Northern innovation and skills growth
As a strategic education partner of the GMIoT, Ada Manchester is benefitting from investment, specialist consultancy and access to a thriving technical community – accelerating the development of future-ready talent and reshaping digital education pathways across the region.
Operating as the bridge between education, employers and digital transformation across the North, GMIoT has helped Ada strengthen the Northern talent pipeline, widen access to opportunities for local learners, and contribute to a sustainable regional skills ecosystem.
This partnership has included co-hosting major industry events, delivering extensive outreach across schools and careers fairs in Greater Manchester, and, from Autumn 2026, offering T-levels through the launch of the new Ada Manchester sixth form.
Opening doors: pathways for all
Underpinned by GMIoT’s employer-led approach to higher technical education, Ada Manchester is creating real impact, opening pathways into digital and AI careers for learners of all ages and backgrounds and ensuring a diverse range of talent that drives richer outcomes for employers.
For PwC apprentice Jack Scoble, studying with Ada Manchester has accelerated both his confidence and his career. His journey has been one of challenge, growth and opportunity: “I have been lucky enough to have very hands on skills coaches who have always shown an interest in what I am doing and my career progression.
“I have been lucky enough to progress and become Tech Lead in multiple projects and hope to continue to reach that high standard to help my career progress. I am glad to have been accepted onto this degree apprenticeship and so far, it has been one of the most rewarding but challenging times of my life and career.”
For fellow PwC apprentice Hari Richardson, Ada Manchester has unlocked the mix of technical learning, professional development and real-world experience he had been seeking: “The Ada apprenticeship offers a balanced mix of traditional education and professional behaviours, allowing students to grow their technical skills, while also instilling a pattern of behaviour that helps students grow within their company.”
After finishing college at 18 years of age with a BTEC Extended Diploma, Hari realised he wanted to progress to a degree apprenticeship and is currently in his second year at the firm.
“The tech industry has always intrigued me. The idea of developing code and seeing the result of it, just seemed like the perfect fit for me. Working in Manchester has a real charm and is great for early career growth; people are talkative and friendly, and that networking is vital for career development.”
These personal stories showcase how accessible, AI-driven education can reshape the regional workforce, ensuring talent is industry-ready and able to meet the skills employers urgently need.
Empowering employers to shape the North’s AI future
This Northern digital boom is generating major benefits for regional employers, particularly in AI. Greater Manchester’s AI sector is already valued at more than £3 billion, and is forecast to exceed £11 billion by 2035, supporting around 25,000 jobs. At a time when digital and AI skills shortages are limiting organisational growth, the question for employers is whether they can afford to overlook this emerging, local pipeline of talent.
To capitalise on this momentum, collaboration is key. For employers working with GMIoT, such as the BBC and Siemens, this means hosting apprentices, mentoring learners and co-designing curriculum to ensure technical education evolves in line with the region’s growing AI economy.
For Ada Manchester students, these partnerships deliver critical real-world experience, industry insight and the confidence to apply their skills in practice, enriching their learning and strengthening their pathways into the AI workforce. In turn, businesses gain dedicated early career talent who can offer new perspectives.
Building the North’s digital future together
Together, GMIoT and Ada Manchester are building a sustainable, inclusive model for digital and AI skills that will serve the North, and help shape the UK’s future workforce.
At the heart of their collaboration is a shared ambition to make the region a national leader in digital and AI capability. By aligning education, innovation and opportunity, and by developing local talent through close industry partnerships, they are creating a skills ecosystem that powers innovation, strengthens communities, and ensures the Northern digital boom becomes a lasting force for national growth and social mobility.
In order to achieve this ambitious goal, Ada Manchester and the GMIoT is encouraging employers across the region to join the ecosystem and help shape the future of AI talent.
For more information, please visit Ada Manchester Campus – Ada , Greater Manchester Institute of Technology or email [email protected]
