Manchester has always aimed high, and now its infrastructure reflects that ambition. The city’s latest tech landmark, No.3 Circle Square, has officially opened. This £87 million workspace is specifically designed for the tech, digital, and life sciences industries.
No.3 isn’t just another office building, it’s a 15-storey, 267,000 sq ft state-of-the-art facility. It serves as the newest centrepiece of the £750 million Circle Square innovation district, located in the heart of the Oxford Road Corridor, one of the UK’s fastest-growing tech and research hubs.
Interest is already surging. Major companies, such as PUMA, are relocating their UK headquarters from London to Manchester. Auto Trader, Havas, and the Information Commissioner’s Office are also moving in.
Beyond established corporations, a wave of promising startups has joined this ecosystem. SafetyCulture, now valued at £1.3 billion, has emerged as Manchester’s newest unicorn after securing an £85 million investment round led by Airtree Ventures. Meanwhile, Firenze, a Manchester-based startup, recently raised £ 750,000 in one of the largest pre-seed rounds outside London, with backing from a16z’s Scout Fund, Atomico, Ada Ventures, and Lakestar.
What unites these diverse companies? Their desire to be part of Manchester’s next major chapter.
Designed for what growing companies need
Step inside No.3 and you’ll find a workspace tailored to how modern companies operate and grow. It features flexible floor plans, breakout areas, a gym, bike storage, shared roof terraces, and superfast connectivity. Natural light floods the space because no one does their best work under harsh strip lighting.
The appeal extends beyond physical features: the building runs entirely on renewable energy, with all-electric systems, smart ventilation, and solar panels. Its communal operations are completely net-zero carbon.
Like other properties in the Bruntwood SciTech portfolio, it draws power from a dedicated wind farm. As companies adapt to hybrid work models, changing priorities, and sustainability goals, No.3 Circle Square demonstrates how workplaces can transform from merely functional spaces into environments that attract talent, foster culture, and support meaningful growth.
£87M – a price tag, or rather a message?
The opening of No. 3 Circle Square marks a significant milestone in a broader initiative by its developer, Bruntwood SciTech. Supported by Legal & General and the Greater Manchester Pension Fund, this joint venture is investing £243 million across Manchester as part of a larger plan to develop a £5 billion innovation portfolio in the UK by 2033. This infrastructure is reshaping the city by bringing together high-growth companies, public agencies, university research, and startup support in one location.
No. 3 aims to break down barriers, foster partnerships, and accelerate the journey from lab discoveries to market-ready products. In essence, Manchester’s innovation economy is coming of age. With No.3 Circle Square, the city makes a clear statement: the talent and ambition are here, and now, so is the space to nurture them.
