What once began as a Roman settlement is now - after London - the second most important city in the UK. Rich in history and with an unmistakable mix of Victorian splendor, typical brick housing estates and modern high-rise buildings made of glass and concrete. This is complemented by three universities, a lively music scene and laid-back residents, the Mancunians, who make Manchester unique.
The boom that Manchester experienced from 1700 to the middle of the 19th century is also almost unique - a small town became one of the centers of the Industrial Revolution. Around 1850, 300,000 people lived and worked here. The textile industry flourished - unfortunately also on the backs of African slaves on American cotton plantations - and brought the city unprecedented wealth in those years.
Manchester capitalism, a form of liberalism in which the state relinquished all influence in favor of economic success, was born. An era of innovation and misery. Extensive waterways were created, industrial production was introduced, the world's first railroad ran from Manchester to Liverpool. Textile factories sprang up like mushrooms: Three became ten and eventually more than 100. In "Cottonopolis", people in many places lived in undignified conditions, a few became richer and richer.
Centre of political history.
And that in turn had an influence on the whole world. Friedrich Engels, the son of a German factory owner, lived in Manchester from 1842 to 1844. Back in Germany, he wrote "The Condition of the Working Class in England" under the influence of his experiences. The book is an indictment of the wealthy middle classes and their greed for profit. Engels holds this class responsible for the impoverishment of the workers.
The philosopher was frequently visited by Karl Marx in Manchester - they worked together there in Chetham's Library on their "Manifesto of the Communist Party". With this, they founded Marxism in 1848. However, great things were created in Manchester not only politically, industrially and in terms of the history of ideas, but also scientifically. Modern chemistry originated in the north of England with John Dalton's atomic theory. The natural scientist and teacher was the first to develop a scientifically sound atomic model.
Modern city with important cultural heritage.
Today, its scientific heritage is cultivated at three universities with more than 100,000 students from all over the world. Manchester, surrounded by breathtakingly rugged nature, characterized by a diverse music and club scene, and nowhere near as expensive as London, is one of the most liveable cities in the country. This is why many graduates stay in Manchester and the surrounding area. They form the well-educated backbone of a successful region with an excellent infrastructure.
More than seven million people live within an hour's drive, the airport is an international hub and the economy has long since positioned itself for the future. Manchester has succeeded in transforming itself from a working-class city into a modern city without forgetting its own history. Today, the city and surrounding area are dominated by industries of the future: life sciences and healthcare, IT and digitalization, finance, media and mechanical engineering. An ideal environment for Bechtle, in which James Napp, Managing Director of Bechtle UK, sees prospects for further growth: "Manchester is a defining metropolis in the north of England. It offers us access to many companies and is a key recruiting ground for well-trained business salespeople and account managers.”
Bechtle in Great Britain.
When James Napp drove into the new Bechtle office in Plymouth for the first time in 1997, he could not have imagined how the young company would develop. Today, the Managing Director of Bechtle UK is head of almost 300 employees at four locations. Over the past five years, he and his team have once again significantly increased the pace of growth. The Manchester branch was opened in 2019, the company moved into a new, modern office in Chippenham in 2021, the established IT system house ACS Systems was acquired in 2022 and the high-revenue value-added reseller Tangible Benefit, based in London, was taken over in 2023. On this basis, James Napp and his team have big goals: "We want to be one of the top 5 IT service providers in the UK by 2030." Key factors in achieving this are the extensive portfolio, an excellently trained team and local proximity to customers. With locations in Northampton, London, Chippenham and Manchester, Bechtle fully covers the southern half of the UK.
