How Manchester’s digital strengths are powering business growth

By Stephen McGee, Managing Director at 9Ways Digital Media

Manchester has long been recognised as a powerhouse of innovation. Ever since the city led the way in the industrial revolution, we’ve been home to some of the brightest and best in the world. It’s therefore no surprise that Manchester has now become one of Europe’s largest creative, digital and technology clusters. With MediaCityUK’s rapidly growing £5bn digital economy and Manchester’s reputation as the UK’s ‘creative capital’, the city has become a magnet for ambitious entrepreneurs and investors alike.

Its combination of infrastructure, world-class talent and strong business support systems make it an ideal environment for start-ups and growing businesses to thrive. With the right conditions for businesses to thrive, it’s important to ensure that funders and investors aren’t just recognising this, but putting their money where their mouth is to unlock Manchester’s full potential.

This is where public institutions, like the British Business Bank and The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II, can play a key role in crowding in private sector investment to support our region’s businesses.

At 9Ways Digital Media, we are proud to be part of this dynamic ecosystem. Founded in 2020, we are a digital media solutions company with a clear mission to elevate pharmacy communications. Over the past five years, we’ve grown significantly from our base in Stockport, a journey that reflects the strength of Greater Manchester’s digital economy and the support available to businesses within it.

Launching during the pandemic presented significant challenges, however, it also sharpened our focus. We carved out a clear niche in the pharmacy sector that has allowed us to innovate and deliver tailored solutions to clients.

As the healthcare landscape shifted, we expanded our services to cover external digital solutions, social media support, dynamic digital signage, subscription-based media services, hardware installations and advertising fulfilment. This strategic pivot allowed us to make communications more effective in a healthcare setting and unlock new growth opportunities.

As a Northern business, we are passionate about driving innovation in the creative industry. However, scaling a business requires access to the right kind of support. The first Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF) provided exactly that for us. Its focus on supporting innovation across the North of England made it the perfect partner for our next stage of growth.

The funding from NPIF-GC Business Smaller Loans, enabled us to expand our operational capacity, enhance our digital infrastructure and invest in the talent needed to deliver at scale.

The additional working capital also gave us the headroom to streamline our service offering, deepen our sector expertise and pursue strategic partnerships that ultimately positioned us as a leading provider of sector-specific digital media solutions. For us, NPIF’s involvement was more than a financial investment, it was also an endorsement of our vision and a catalyst for sustainable growth.

Access to finance has historically been a challenge for many Northern businesses, especially those in the creative sector, so it’s great to have targeted funding that addresses this problem head on. Funds like NPIF and now NPIF II play a vital role in ensuring innovation thrives across all parts of the UK, helping regional businesses scale faster and compete on a national or international scale.

Being based in Manchester offers a unique environment for digital businesses such as ourselves. The city’s mix of creativity, connectivity and collaboration creates the ideal environment for businesses to grow. Its world-class university institutions, innovation hubs and regional fund all help give innovative businesses access to the tools and networks needed to thrive. It’s this ecosystem that will help Manchester lead the UK’s digital future, something that we’re very much committed to being a part of. 

We’re proud to serve over 700 clients, delivering dynamic content and measurable results across the UK. Our success has been powered by our talented team, our clients’ trust and Manchester’s supportive digital ecosystem.

At 9Ways Digital Media, our focus remains on helping pharmacies communicate better, connect deeper and grow smarter. Our long term ambition is to become the pharmacy sector’s go-to provider for digital media solutions.

Manchester provides the perfect backdrop for that ambition. As the digital landscape continues to evolve and with the continued support of organisations like the Northern Powerhouse Investment Funds, Manchester will continue to attract more creative businesses.

As published on BusinessDesk.com