A high-level roundtable convening senior figures from across Greater Manchester’s startup and scaleup ecosystem will define the agenda for SCALE Manchester, a business summit taking place at Freight Island on 25 November 2026.
SCALE PRESS RELEASE
SCALE, the platform connecting founders, investors and business allies through events and community, is convening a roundtable in Manchester on 11 June 2026 to help define the priorities for SCALE Manchester, a new summit in November.
SCALE’s London event, on 22-23 April, brought together the entrepreneurs behind brands such as HomeServe, Hello Fresh, Little Moons, Covent Garden Soup Co., GoHenry, Pip&Nut and Buy Women Built, along with a host of investors and key players in the UK’s scaleup ecosystem, including the Angel Investor Network, the London Stock Exchange Group, UK Private Capital and the Enterprise Investment Scheme Association.
The team behind SCALE is now bringing together some of the most influential voices in the North West. The insights gathered from this carefully curated group will directly influence the themes, priorities, and connections at the heart of SCALE Manchester.
Sam North, Co-founder and CEO of SCALE, said;
“The North West has an extraordinary story to tell about what it means to build a business in Britain right now. SCALE Manchester exists to give that story a stage, and accelerate growth.
This is genuinely an open conversation. We want leaders in the North West to share their experience and perspectives of starting, building and calling a business in this part of the UK - the good, the bad and the ugly.
We’re here to listen and learn about the unique challenges and opportunities in the region, so that we can provide the content and connections needed to turn ambition into reality.”
A major new summit, SCALE Manchester on 25 November 2026 is set to become a flagship event for founders and scaling businesses across the North West, building on SCALE’s established reputation in London.
Alongside senior representatives from the region’s leading ecosystem organisations, the roundtable will feature the voices of entrepreneurs from underprivileged backgrounds and underrepresented communities, including female founders, and entrepreneurs living with disability.
Amy Knight, Co-founder of Women Who Scale, the branch of the SCALE platform focused on women-led businesses, said:
“Conversations about building and scaling in the North West should include those who are doing it against the odds. I’m looking for founders whose stories are worthy of a spotlight on stage later in the year.”
The questions on the table
The roundtable attendees will discuss the North West’s economic, employment and funding landscape, asking what it will take to unlock the next generation of scaleup success.
- What makes Manchester and the North West one of the UK’s most exciting places to build and scale a business today?
- What are the biggest opportunities and barriers facing ambitious founders in the region?
- How can the North West strengthen its support for scaling businesses over the next 3–5 years?
- What conversations and topics are front of mind for founders and investors right now?
- How can SCALE Summit Manchester translate regional ambition into real economic growth?
Ecosystem organisations confirmed to attend
Department for Business & Trade (DBT)
The UK government department responsible for growing businesses, opening markets, and promoting trade and investment, with a regional presence supporting the North West's economic growth agenda.
Greater Manchester Combined Authority
GMCA is made up of the ten Greater Manchester councils and Mayor, who work with other local services, businesses, communities and other partners to improve the city-region. They collaborated to give local people a voice and make a strong case for resources and investment, helping the north of England achieve its potential.
Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce
The voice of business in Greater Manchester, advocating for employers of all sizes across the region and connecting members with policy, trade, and growth opportunities.
Enterprise Investment Scheme Association (EISA)
The membership body representing the EIS and SEIS investment community across the UK, championing patient capital for early-stage and growth businesses.
Grant Thornton
One of the UK's leading audit, tax and advisory firms, with a strong Manchester presence and deep experience supporting scaling and mid-market businesses across the North West.
Barclays
The major high street and business bank whose Eagle Labs programme has been a consistent backer of the Manchester tech and founder community.
Unit M
The University of Manchester's innovation capability, created to connect and catalyse the innovation ecosystem in Manchester and the wider region to accelerate inclusive growth, including running accelerator and incubator programmes and building investor networks for the startup and scale-up community.
Ward Hadaway
One of the UK's top 100 law firms and a major player in the North of England, with offices in Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle, offering a comprehensive range of commercial legal services.
Pro Manchester
The largest business development organisation in the North West, representing the business community across the region and supporting growth and development to promote the North as the place to do business.
Prolific North
The leading news and events hub for the media, marketing and creative sectors in the North, existing to celebrate, connect and inform the North's creative and digital sectors.
Silicon Mingle
Manchester's fastest-growing no-nonsense tech networking community, bringing together founders, investors and tech enthusiasts every month for good old-fashioned conversation with no speakers, no panels and no pressure.
BSL
Providing HR outsourcing, training & procurement outsourcing services for the uk’s scaleups. BSL offers a range of solutions designed to help growing businesses thrive.
Venture Café Manchester
Venture Café brings together the entire innovation ecosystem weekly at their Thursday Gathering, designed to foster the right culture for support and cross-functional collaborations.
Founders confirmed
Chris Gore
Chris grew up in a disadvantaged area of Liverpool. Wanting to escape a cycle of unemployment and limited opportunities, he dropped out of school early and joined the military before discovering entrepreneurship. Chris co-founded SPOR Group, a specialist AV integration business that now supports over 1,500 meeting rooms across the UK, Europe and Asia and turns over £6 million. Chris is a notable voice in the workspace technology sector, sharing his insights as the host of the Future Workplace podcast and authoring the book Work Isn't Working.
Pauline Muswere-Enagbonma
Founder of Jessamy Care Group, an integrated care, housing, workforce and technology ecosystem transforming how the UK delivers support to vulnerable children, Pauline is a visually impaired Black woman with albinism. She has been shortlisted for the Diversity & Inclusion Champion of the Year honour at the 2026 Women in Governance, Risk & Compliance Awards.
Kasia Bromley
Originally from Poland, Kasia is a former Alexander McQueen protégé who swapped haute couture for hiking gear, Kasia co-founded ACAI Outdoorwear, a women-founded brand born from her vision to make the outdoors accessible for all women.
>> SCALE SUMMIT is coming to Manchester! Find out more and register here.
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