Expansion plans at digital firm to create 300 new jobs

Manchester tech firm UKFast has agreed a deal with the city council to buy 120,000 sq ft of land for expansion, in plans that could create at least 300 jobs.

Co-founder and chief executive, Lawrence Jones, has negotiated the deal for the plot of land opposite UKFast’s Campus headquarters in Birley Fields, Hulme.

The planned acquisition of the site is key to the continued growth and acceleration of UKFast and its associated companies, which together employ more than 400 people in Manchester and beyond.

The current Birley Fields Campus incorporates two identical 40,000 sq ft buildings, 1 and 3 Archway.

The Campus is also home to the FastForward tech incubator, managed by Tech Manchester – a not-for-profit initiative funded by UKFast to support tech startups.

FastForward already provides a base for 15 start-up and scale-up businesses, with Jones currently providing space in the incubator to these businesses free of charge.

Lawrence Jones and UKFast co-founder and managing director, Gail Jones, have a long-term aspiration to create a dedicated tech campus, stimulating the UK tech community, creating jobs for Manchester and adding value to the city.