KPMG UK has announced it will invest £5.5 million in its flagship Manchester office at One St Peter’s Square to enhance the services it offers to businesses in the region and provide improved working spaces for colleagues.
As well as redesigning the office space, the firm will build Ignition North, a new 25,000sq foot collaborative hub designed to spark innovation and support digital transformation on the site.
The new centre will be home to KPMG’s Ignition team. Along with technology experts from across KPMG, the Ignition team will support clients from the start of an idea through to the design, prototyping and development of solutions using a combination of methods, tools and technologies.
The new Ignition Centre, which will open in Spring 2023, will include the Discovery and Insights Centre, a state-of-the-art facility to showcase the latest data & analytics and artificial intelligence tools, and The Lab, where teams of 10-30 can translate ideas into specific strategies, solutions and plans.
Ignition North’s design prioritises meetings and presentations, as well as spaces for clients and colleagues to informally gather. The refurbished office space will take into account a new more flexible approach to working.
KPMG’s Manchester office is currently home to 1,200 employees, including more than 260 people in technology roles. Ignition North will create further jobs in the city as the firm recruits to support its new offering.
Jon Holt, chief executive of KPMG UK, said: “Manchester’s thriving tech centre is a hive of activity and the city has really established its reputation on the world’s stage as a leader in this field.
“Our new Ignition Centre in Manchester will support a huge range of incredible businesses in the region and more widely, bringing together insights, people, and technology to accelerate innovation and help them solve some of their most complex problems.”
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said: “This investment, which will create new jobs in our digital and tech sectors, is a real vote of confidence in Greater Manchester’s thriving innovation economy. We’re the fastest-growing digital and tech hub in Europe, and Ignition North will be part of an expanding network of businesses and working spaces across our city-region driving that growth.”
Warren Middleton, Manchester Office Senior Partner at KPMG UK, added: “Bringing Ignition to Manchester really demonstrates the potential and growth trajectory of the office and the region more broadly. I am delighted we can make these significant changes and commitment to our Manchester office, supporting our own growth and that of our clients in the region.”
