CityCo Manchester

Name

CityCo Manchester

Legal name

CityCo Manchester

Website

https://cityco.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CityCo Manchester is a not-for-profit membership organization and Business Improvement District operator representing 1,500 businesses across Manchester city centre in retail, hospitality, office, hotel, and property sectors, delivering BID services, crime reduction, city intelligence, lobbying, and public events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

City Centre Management Services

NAICS

Convention and Visitors Bureaus (561591), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable Cities, Urban Development & Green Infrastructure (BPADALAL)

Keywords

• City centre management
• Business improvement district
• Business crime reduction
• Membership services
• Public event management

Headquarters

HQ city

Manchester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: CityCo generates revenue through annual membership fees from businesses in Manchester city centre. Membership fees fund operational support, business crime reduction, city intelligence, lobbying, and access to training and events. The City Intelligence Network package is priced at £1,500 per annum. Membership can be tailored depending on business needs and priority areas, with flexible arrangements available.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

CityCo Manchester is a not-for-profit membership organisation (also known as The City Centre Management Company) that represents and delivers services to approximately 1,500 businesses operating in Manchester city centre. It operates as the statutory delivery company for the Manchester City Centre Business Improvement District (600+ levy payers) and is the delivery partner for Manchester Accommodation BID. Its core commercial offering comprises paid membership programmes (Business Crime Reduction Partnership, Pub & Club Network, City Intelligence Network paid subscription at £1,500/annum), city centre events (Manchester Flower Festival, Super Duper Family Festival, SCENE, Halloween in the City, MCR Student Social, Christmas Parade), and a suite of urban resilience training courses (ACT Awareness, PAcT Kits, Women's Night-time Safety Charter) all aimed at driving footfall, public safety and operational resilience for member businesses.

Product overview

CityCo Manchester operates as a not-for-profit membership organization and city centre management company representing businesses in Manchester city centre. The offering is a portfolio of interconnected membership programmes and public event services rather than a unified software platform. The core services include Manchester City Centre BID (a consortium of 600+ retailers, hospitality operators and offices) and Manchester Accommodation BID (representing hoteliers). Supporting programmes include the Manchester Business Crime Reduction Partnership (BCRP) for security, the City Intelligence Network for operational awareness, and the Manchester Pub and Club Network for night-time economy venues. The public events programme includes The Manchester Flower Festival, SCENE LGBTQ+ Film & TV Festival, The Super Duper Family Festival, Halloween in the City, MCR Student Social, and Manchester Christmas Parade—all designed to drive footfall and positive PR for members. Training and safety initiatives include ACT Awareness Training (supporting Martyn's Law), PAcT Kit Scheme, and Women's Night-time Safety Charter.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Manchester City Centre BID: Business Improvement District supporting retailers, hospitality and office tenants in Manchester city centre
• Manchester Business Crime Reduction Partnership (BCRP)
• Manchester Pub and Club Network
• City Intelligence Network
• The Super Duper Family Festival
• SCENE Festival
• Halloween in the City
• The Manchester Flower Festival
• MCR Student Social

Products and services

• Manchester City Centre BID Statutory Business Improvement District management service covering 600+ leading retailers, hospitality operators and offices in Manchester city centre. Stages major events to drive footfall, funds the City Hosts team, and supports levy payers with operational support, security, city intelligence, briefings, training and lobbying.
• Manchester Accommodation BID Delivery partnership for the Manchester Accommodation BID representing and advocating for hoteliers. Supports the hotel sector through events programming, marketing initiatives, City Hosts presence at Manchester Piccadilly and Victoria stations, and the Super Duper Family Festival and SCENE events.
• Manchester Business Crime Reduction Partnership (BCRP) Membership partnership helping create a safe and secure environment for businesses, employees, clients and customers. Members gain access to the Disc online portal, StoreNet/NiteNet radio networks, real-time security intelligence and civil exclusion scheme support, working in partnership with Greater Manchester Police, licensing and anti-social behaviour teams.
• City Intelligence Network Paid intelligence subscription providing timely updates on city centre activities impacting operations and forward planning. Priced at £1,500 per annum (introductory rate), benefits include disruption alerts, verified protest intelligence, verified protect intelligence and roadworks data.
• Manchester Pub and Club Network Membership network representing 700+ day and night-time economy venues across Manchester city centre, providing briefings, training and a platform for licensed premises operators.
• ACT Awareness Training Action Counters Terrorism awareness training programme as part of the city's commitment to public safety following the 2017 Manchester Arena attack. Delivered in partnership with Greater Manchester Police, North West Counter Terrorism Unit, Protect UK and NPSA, supporting businesses' preparation for Martyn's Law.
• PAcT Kit Scheme Public Access Trauma Kit scheme providing city centre businesses, hotels, licensed venues, bars and restaurants with life-saving equipment for emergency care during major incidents. Each kit contains protective equipment, trauma dressings, tourniquets and bandages, designed to bridge the 'care gap' before emergency services arrive.
• Women's Night-time Safety Charter Initiative to improve safety for women in the night-time economy, providing training and a 7-pledge framework for businesses to commit to safety measures.
• The Manchester Flower Festival Annual urban celebration of flowers and green spaces held over the late May Bank Holiday weekend, transforming the city centre with floral installations and activities to drive footfall and PR for member businesses.
• SCENE: Manchester LGBTQ+ Film & TV Festival Manchester's LGBTQ+ Film and TV Festival celebrating the best in new and classic LGBT+ cinema and television, produced on behalf of Manchester Accommodation BID. Held annually in August as part of Manchester Village Pride Fringe with venue partnership from Factory International / Aviva Studios.
• The Super Duper Family Festival Citywide family event during February Half-Term transforming the city centre into a giant playground with free PLAY Zones, DISCOVER activities and STAY hotel offers, produced on behalf of Manchester Accommodation BID.
• Halloween in the City Annual family Halloween event featuring the MCR Monsters rooftop hunt, street entertainment and performances across the city centre.
• MCR Student Social Student-focused event delivered in partnership with Manchester Arndale, part of CityCo's annual programme of public events designed to attract visitors and generate positive PR for member businesses.
• Manchester Christmas Parade Annual sparkling spectacle featuring colourful characters, magical performers and musicians in a circular route through the retail district, supported by CityCo's team of 'hype elves'.

Quantifiable outcome

• 160,000+ visitors attracted to Manchester city centre during Manchester Flower Festival 2026, with St Ann's Square +10% and King Street +21% footfall uplift
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• Manchester City CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCityCo works with Manchester City Council across multiple areas including BID governance, street cleaning, homelessness, licensing, anti-social behaviour, events, water safety, and food policy. The Council funds PAcT kit distribution and supports CityCo's annual events calendar. CityCo is a statutory member of the Manchester Homelessness Partnership, Manchester Water Safety Partnership, and Manchester Food Board.
• Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCityCo partners with TfGM on transport planning, road closures, major event logistics, and tram works communications. TfGM operates the Parklife Express shuttle bus service coordinated through CityCo. Joint briefings on transport disruptions are shared with members.
• Greater Manchester Police (GMP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCityCo works in close partnership with GMP on the BCRP (Business Crime Reduction Partnership), counter-terrorism (ACT Awareness training, Martyn's Law), security briefings, protest management, and emergency response. GMP provides the policing assurance referenced in Britain First event communications.
• Marketing ManchestercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCityCo partners with Marketing Manchester for the promotion of Manchester city centre events and the city's visitor destination. Marketing Manchester supports the events programme including the Manchester Flower Festival, Super Duper Family Festival, and citywide Pride celebrations. CityCo is a delivery partner for Manchester Accommodation BID alongside Marketing Manchester.
• Manchester Accommodation BIDcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCityCo is the delivery partner for Manchester Accommodation BID (ABID), representing and advocating for hoteliers in Manchester. Through this partnership, CityCo delivers events including The Super Duper Family Festival and SCENE LGBTQ+ Film & TV Festival, extends the City Hosts programme to Manchester Piccadilly and Victoria stations, and supports hotel security through PAcT kit distribution.
• Manchester City Centre BIDcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCityCo is the delivery company for Manchester City Centre BID, a consortium of 600+ retailers, hospitality operators and offices. The BID stages major events to drive footfall and positive PR, funds the City Hosts team, and supports levy payers with business services.
• North West Counter-Terrorism UnitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCityCo partners with the North West Counter-Terrorism Unit as part of ACT (Action Counters Terrorism) Awareness training delivery. This follows the 2017 Manchester Arena attack and supports the introduction of Martyn's Law. Training is delivered face-to-face by trained advisors from Protect UK and NPSA.
• Protect UK / National Protective Security Authority (NPSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACT Awareness training is delivered face-to-face by trained advisors from Protect UK and NPSA, administered by CityCo in partnership with Manchester City Council, GMP, and the North West Counter-Terrorism Unit. NPSA (formerly CPNI) provides guidance supporting Martyn's Law implementation.
• Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue ServicemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCityCo partners with Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service for Water Safety training, delivered as part of CityCo's Urban Resilience Training programme.
• Canal & River TrustmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCanal & River Trust partners with CityCo on Water Safety training as part of the Manchester Water Safety Partnership.
• Steroplast HealthcaremajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSteroplast Healthcare is the medical supplier partner for the Manchester PAcT (Public Access Trauma) Kit scheme, managed by Manchester City Council with operational support from CityCo. The scheme addresses the 'care gap' identified during the Manchester Arena Inquiry. Kits have been funded by Manchester City Council and Manchester Accommodation BID.
• Keep Britain TidymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCityCo supports the annual Keep Britain Tidy Great British Spring Clean campaign in partnership with Manchester City Council, helping city centre businesses participate in ESG activities including litter picking, graffiti removal, and environmental improvements.
• Manchester Homelessness PartnershipmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCityCo provides representation at the Manchester Homelessness Partnership, a citywide action group addressing homelessness and rough sleeping in the city centre.
• Manchester Hoteliers' AssociationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCityCo provides representation at the Manchester Hoteliers' Association as part of its lobbying and city forums work, ensuring hotel sector voices are heard in city planning and operations.
• Manchester Food BoardmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCityCo provides representation at the Manchester Food Board, participating in food policy discussions affecting city centre hospitality businesses.
• Figen Murray OBEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFigen Murray OBE, mother of Martyn Hett who died in the Arena attack, is the driving force behind Martyn's Law. She supports CityCo's ACT Awareness training and PAcT Kit scheme implementation, and is a prominent campaigner for venue safety legislation.
• Manchester Village Pride CICcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCityCo is an official fringe partner for SCENE LGBTQ+ Film & TV Festival, donating ticket profits to Manchester Village Pride's chosen LGBTQ+ charities. CityCo also supports the reborn Pride celebrations led by this community interest company established after the collapse of the previous Manchester Pride organisation.
• Northern BIDs GroupsupportingOthersCityCo is a member of the Northern BIDs Group, a network of Business Improvement Districts across Northern England providing peer support and shared advocacy.
• Association of Town Centre Management (ATCM)supportingOthersCityCo is a member of the Association of Town Centre Management, the national body representing place management and city centre management organisations in the UK.
• Factory International / Aviva StudiosmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerFactory International / Aviva Studios serves as a venue partner for SCENE LGBTQ+ Film & TV Festival and a programme partner for the Super Duper Family Festival, providing cultural content and audience engagement across CityCo's events.
• ECHO (PR agency)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerECHO PR agency handles media relations for CityCo's Manchester Flower Festival and other major events, coordinating press coverage including BBC Breakfast, ITV News, national press, and regional broadcast.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cityco-manchester
• Xx.com/cityco

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CityCo Manchester