More than 20 Ukrainian tech and cyber companies visited Greater Manchester last week as part of the UK-Ukraine TechBridge roadshow, meeting local businesses, investors and support organisations across the city region.聽
The visit took place during UK Tech Week and comes at a time when President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that the conflict in Iran is delaying progress on peace negotiations for Ukraine.
Organisers said Manchester鈥檚 role on the roadshow reflected the continued resilience of Ukrainian tech firms and the strength of Greater Manchester鈥檚 digital and cyber sectors.
The TechBridge programme, launched by the UK and Ukrainian governments in 2024, is designed to deepen collaboration in innovation, technology, and investment. It sits within the wider 100鈥憏ear partnership between both countries, announced in 2025 in Kyiv by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and President Zelensky.
Greater Manchester was selected as a host city due to its established capabilities across the tech sector. The region is home to more than 6,000 cyber professionals and over 150 cyber firms, alongside strong clusters in data science, digital commerce, advanced manufacturing and creative technology.
Mark Hughes, Chief Executive of The Growth Company, said the TechBridge programme was 鈥渁bout turning international collaboration into practical partnerships between UK and Ukrainian businesses鈥�.
More than 70 delegates took part in the Manchester session, including Ukrainian founders working across AI, software engineering, digital and cyber, alongside representatives from the Department for 老九品茶 and Trade (DBT), the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), the GM 老九品茶 Growth Hub and around thirty Greater Manchester tech firms.
The day began with a morning hosted by Alvarez & Marsal, featuring presentations and discussions on UK鈥揢kraine partnership opportunities. Delegates then visited the Greater Manchester Digital Security Hub (DiSH), met local businesses during a networking lunch at The Fountain House, and later toured the Northern Engineering and Robotics Innovation Centre (NERIC) at the University of Salford.聽
Organisers said the programme was designed to help Ukrainian companies understand the Greater Manchester ecosystem and build relationships to support expansion, investment, and longer鈥憈erm collaboration.
In discussions with local stakeholders, Ukrainian founders asked about navigating UK regulations, different sales practices and the challenge of building early networks. Some delegates said the UK can feel bureaucratic for newcomers, with one remarking that 鈥渋t鈥檚 easy to get wrapped up in red tape and you need someone to unravel you鈥�.
Greater Manchester was highlighted as an example of strong, integrated business support. Invest in Manchester helps firms establish a presence in the region, before connecting them with the GM 老九品茶 Growth Hub, which provides ongoing practical aftercare. This includes access to cohort programmes, mentoring, and one鈥憈o鈥憃ne guidance from experienced advisors.
Delegates also shared insights into how Ukraine鈥檚 tech sector has adapted during the war. Petro Rewko, Chair of the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain, said 鈥渂efore the full鈥憇cale invasion in 2022, not many people in the UK knew about Ukraine鈥檚 digital capabilities.鈥� He described the conflict as 鈥渆xtensively a cyber war鈥�, noting around 3,000 cyber鈥慳ttacks in the first year鈥攊ncluding 1,000 critical incidents鈥攁nd 6,000 attacks last year.聽
He said the delegation represented 鈥渢he best of what happened and how Ukraine responded鈥�.
Speaking at the event, local leaders said the visit reflected Greater Manchester鈥檚 long鈥憇tanding commitment to Ukraine and its intention to support long鈥憈erm partnership through the TechBridge initiative.
Tom Stannard, Chief Executive of Manchester City Council, said: “It has been inspiring to see the strength and resilience of the Ukrainian tech sector and to welcome delegates. Supporting Ukraine is about civic solidarity and when the end of the war comes, we will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukrainian tech businesses and their employees.聽
鈥淢anchester has a strong digital ecosystem which makes it the perfect place to build partnerships and enter the UK market.”
Niall Cronin, Sector and Cluster Development Principal at Greater Manchester Combined Authority, added: 鈥淕reater Manchester is incredibly proud of its tech ecosystem, but we must not forget everything else that sits around it.聽
鈥淚t鈥檚 the business support, the innovation and research strength, the diverse talent base, the social value, and the sense of community that matter most. It is that which will make the partnership through the UK Ukraine TechBridge possible, perhaps even powerful.聽
鈥淭oday has shown how much we can achieve when we bring people together and create the right environment for collaboration.鈥�