Introduction |

Financial and Professional 
The sheer scale of ManchesterÕs financial and professional services community demonstrates the breadth of opportunities available to new investors. The sector employs over 240,000 people across a range of activities including insurance, retail finance, wealth management, corporate finance, law and accountancy, which together generate annual wealth of over £9bn. As the largest regional corporate finance centre in the UK, Manchester and the Northwest recorded a total deal value of £18.8bn in 2006, as well as the highest number of management buy-outs in Britain in 2005. 
Manchester continues to grow in popularity, offering the workforce, connectivity and business environment to support the ongoing development of the sector. Several companies have recognised the enormous potential that Manchester offers, with recent investors in the city including the Bank of New York Mellon, Kleinwort Benson, Daniel Stewart & Co., Investec, Hiscox, Handelsbanken and Credit Suisse. ¥ 
The Cooperative Banks Pyramid Building, Stockport