Tech trade body calls for ecommerce centre of excellence in Manchester
Manchester Digital, the trade body representing the region’s tech and e-commerce sector, is calling on the Government to create a National Centre of E-Commerce Excellence, in partnership with The Manchester Metropolitan University and UKTCG.
The initiative aims to future-proof the sector, create jobs and ensure the UK remains competitive in the global digital economy.
The UK is currently the fourth largest e-commerce market in the world, after the US, China and Japan, contributing more than £80 billion a year in exports. With online retail expected to account for over a fifth of all UK retail sales by 2027, Manchester Digital believes there is a strong case for a dedicated, Government-supported body to help the sector grow further and reach new markets.
Katie Gallagher OBE, managing director of Manchester Digital and chair of the UK Tech Cluster Group (UKTCG), said: “The UK is home to a thriving e-commerce sector, with much of it based here in Manchester, yet there is no dedicated institution for fostering innovation, skills development and business growth. As AI is rapidly reshaping digital commerce, and with global political uncertainty, the tech industry and Government must work together to ensure the UK stays ahead.”
The proposal sets out a vision for a new centre that brings together research, commercial application and workforce readiness to support sustainable growth. It suggests Manchester as the location for a pilot, given its position as an established e-commerce hub and home to major brands such as Booking.com, Auto Trader, Ao.com, Pets at Home and THG. The region has around 3,000 e-commerce businesses and strong links to complementary sectors such as fintech, AI and cybersecurity.
Speaking at its annual E-Commerce Conference in Manchester, where the role of AI in delivering more personalised and immersive shopping experiences was top of the agenda, she a new centre would launch as a pilot in the North West before expanding into a network of regional hubs across the UK, supported by local tech ecosystem organisations.
The hubs would pioneer new models in AI-driven retail; create at least 2,500 new jobs;
Upskill people and help at least 250 UK e-commerce companies expand into global markets, she said.
David Edmundson-Bird, Faculty Lead in AI at The Manchester Metropolitan University and co-author of the proposal, highlighted post-Brexit challenges including cross-border trade complexity and regulatory change.
He said: “Targeted support through a National Centre of E-Commerce Excellence would strengthen supply chains and boost exports, while also helping the sector respond to changes brought about by AI.”
Katie Gallagher concluded by saying that the energy and ambition at today’s conference show that the UK’s e-commerce sector is ready to lead.
She added: “We’ve seen real enthusiasm from businesses that want to innovate, scale and grow. This proposal is about starting the conversation on how we build the infrastructure to support that growth. The North West has the talent, scale and ecosystem to lead this nationally.”
