Manchester has been named Britain’s top business-creation hotspot outside London. For the city’s growing number of founders, that raises a practical question: where to actually work.
North West flexible workspace provider Orbit Spaces supports those new businesses with affordable, flexible coworking across its Greater Manchester hubs, with day passes from £10 and memberships from £50 a month.
Manchester’s record year for new businesses so far
According to iwoca’s annual Business Hotspots report, 388,922 companies were incorporated across Britain between January and June 2026. That is a 9% rise year-on-year.
Manchester was the highest-ranked local authority in the country, coming seventh nationally. The city recorded 1,308 new businesses per 100,000 residents, up from 13th place a year earlier. That jump of six places in twelve months points to a city gaining businesses faster than almost anywhere else.
So where do these new businesses work?
Every one of those new businesses needs somewhere to work. Few founders can justify a lease, fit-out costs and a long contract in their first year. Working from home keeps costs down, but it rarely suits client calls or genuinely focused working days.
This is where a flexible coworking space offers a middle path, giving founders a professional base that grows alongside the business.
Growing demand for flexible workspace in Manchester
Orbit Spaces runs flexible workspaces across the North West, including coworking, meeting rooms and private offices.
A spokesperson for Orbit Spaces said demand has at times outstripped the space available. “Since opening our first meeting room at 55 King Street, we have seen demand from Manchester-based businesses grow steadily and significantly,” they said. “At peak times, some customers have been unable to secure space when they need it most.” District at 55 King Street adds capacity and widens the range of workspace on offer.
A lasting shift in how businesses choose workspace
The way new businesses think about workspace appears to have changed for good, and Orbit has built around that shift. “Businesses are increasingly prioritising flexibility, particularly when it is paired with a high-quality, professionally managed environment,” the spokesperson said. “Many no longer want the burden of managing space themselves. They want well-designed spaces where everything is taken care of, so teams can focus on productivity and growth.”
Affordable coworking for Manchester founders
For founders weighing up where to base themselves, pricing is often the deciding factor. “We’ve always set out to raise the standard of meeting and collaboration spaces, delivering a design-led product at a more accessible price point than many premium providers,” the spokesperson said. “It’s a genuinely flexible alternative that bridges the gap between traditional serviced offices and high-end workspace brands.”
That thinking shapes how the memberships are priced. A Coworking Day Pass costs £10 and gives access to the shared hub for the day. It suits founders testing the water or teams needing an occasional base.
The Member plan costs £50 a month and opens up Orbit’s flexible coworking space five days a week, with discounted meeting room bookings and invitations to community events. Both plans roll monthly, with no long-term commitment.
District offers more than desk time. Alongside coworking desks, it holds meeting rooms, an event venue and a collaborative lounge open to members and visitors. Orbit also runs workspaces in Stockport, Bolton, and Warrington.
With Manchester creating new businesses faster than anywhere outside London, the demand for space like this is unlikely to slow. For the founders behind those companies, a professional base need not mean a lease or a long contract. To find out more about coworking memberships, visit orbitspaces.co.uk.
Photo Credit: Unsplash.
