Corporate finance in the North West: a selective market creating new opportunities

The North West’s corporate finance market is evolving.

The latest North West Corporate Finance Review 2026 shows a market that has become more selective, with activity increasingly concentrated around larger and strategically significant transactions. While the number of deals involving North West companies fell compared with the first half of 2025, disclosed deal value increased by 23% to £12 billion.

For Nick Rose, Chair of pro-manchester, this is an important distinction.

“Whilst headline deal volumes have reduced compared with the same period last year, the overall value of transactions has increased significantly, demonstrating that capital continues to flow into ambitious businesses across our region.”

Nick describes the current environment as “a market that has become more selective, not weaker”, with activity increasingly centred on larger and strategically significant transactions.

That creates an interesting picture for businesses across Greater Manchester and the wider North West: the market may be more considered, but there is still significant capital, expertise and ambition within the region.

Ambition remains at the heart of the market

A total of 387 deals involving North West companies were recorded during the first half of 2026. Acquisitions continued to dominate activity, with 285 transactions, alongside 55 growth capital deals.

Professional services led sector activity with 73 deals, followed by manufacturing with 48 and technology, media and telecommunications with 43. Health, finance and construction also remained active sectors.

These figures point to a business community continuing to invest, grow and pursue opportunity, even as decision-making becomes more selective.

That ambition is particularly important to Greater Manchester. As Nick highlights, the city region remains one of the UK’s most important economic centres, generating more than £80 billion in GVA each year, with significant investment and development taking place across all ten boroughs.

For pro-manchester, that ambition is fundamental to our purpose: creating opportunity for ambitious businesses and helping Greater Manchester continue to grow.

Local expertise, national and international reach

The Review also highlights the reach of the region’s corporate finance community.

North West advisers were involved in 197 transactions, with 126 taking place outside the North West. Manchester-based advisers were involved in 162 transactions, including 85 involving activity outside the region, as well as 24 cross-border deals.

This demonstrates that the expertise within Manchester and the wider North West is not limited by geography.

Regional knowledge is helping advisers build relationships and deliver work across the UK and internationally, strengthening the region’s reputation while bringing wider opportunities back into its business community. The Review describes North West advisers as regional specialists and national exporters of expertise.

It is also a reminder of the value of being connected.

The relationships built between advisers, businesses, investors, lenders and professional services firms create routes to opportunities that extend far beyond a single transaction or sector.

Connection creates opportunity

For pro-manchester, connection is at the centre of a strong and resilient business ecosystem.

We bring together ambitious businesses across Greater Manchester to connect, develop and shape the future of our city region, creating the relationships, knowledge and opportunities that help organisations move forward.

The corporate finance community is a strong example of this in action.

Businesses benefit from advisers with established networks. Investors gain access to new opportunities. Professional services firms can collaborate across sectors and markets. And organisations considering their next stage of growth can draw on expertise that reaches far beyond their immediate geography.

pro-manchester has a role to play in bringing people together, creating meaningful connections, sharing knowledge and championing the organisations driving economic growth across the region.

That is where a connected growth network can make a difference.

Looking ahead

The first half of 2026 figures provide a clear snapshot of a market that is changing, but they also highlight the strengths that continue to underpin the North West.

Capital continues to flow into ambitious businesses. Larger transactions are demonstrating confidence where there is clear strategic opportunity. Manchester-based expertise is reaching markets across the UK and internationally. And sectors such as technology, AI and life sciences continue to present opportunities that will help shape the region’s future competitiveness.

For Greater Manchester, the opportunity is not simply to respond to those changes, but to help shape what comes next.

That means staying connected, sharing knowledge, developing capability and creating the relationships that allow ambitious businesses to grow.

Because when businesses connect, opportunity follows.