Engineering giant announces its head office will be in Manchester

Engineering giant Siemens has announced it is moving its UK headquarters Manchester.

The move will see 60 jobs created in the city.

Sir William Siemens House on Princess Road in West Didsbury was opened thirty years ago, and the change sees Head Office move from Frimley, Surrey.

Employees at Frimley are not affected, and the office will continue to be an important strategic location for the company.

Outgoing chief executive Juergen Maier and Greater Manchester LEP member, said: “The move of the head office to Manchester supports the future strategic direction of Siemens’ industrial core business.

Jüergen Maier

“Many of our customer and employee base are located in or near to Manchester, making it an ideal location for much of our operations.”

Siemens’ industrial core businesses are comprised of the company’s Digital Industries and Smart Infrastructure operating companies.

Their location is South Manchester is a boost for the Didsbury Technology Park, which occupies nine acres of the original Siemens campus at West Didsbury.

The science and technology park is a strategic partnership involving Siemens, Bruntwood, PJ Livesey, Spire Group and Manchester City Council.

It will provide over 155,000sq ft of new purpose-built commercial workspace in three buildings delivered over three phases, as well as a multi-storey car park and high-quality landscaped environment.

Residential development is also underway at the park.

Siemens’ Manchester base has received new investment in facilities including a fully refurbished reception area, customer lounge and a new employee wellbeing area.

Andy Burnham, Greater Manchester’s mayor said, said: “The news that Manchester is the new headquarters for Siemens UK is a great vote of confidence in Greater Manchester.

“The move is a real boost as we implement our Local Industrial Strategy which aims to raise productivity in sectors where Siemens is a world leader: advanced materials, cyber-security and digitalisation of industries.

“Our city-region led the first industrial revolution, and this is yet another step forward as we look to lead the fourth.”

Henri Murison, director of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, said: “Siemens’ decision to run its UK operation from Manchester can only help our ambition for the North to close the productivity gap and work towards an extra 850,000 jobs by 2050 by transforming our economy for the better.

“Making Manchester its UK head office puts the Northern Powerhouse at the heart of the latest manufacturing and industrial technologies and adds to the compelling claim for the North to lead the next industrial revolution, with Siemens wider commitment to the UK so vital to our country.”