Manchester stories

YFM Equity Partners invests GBP £7.6 million in Exeter-based Shopify agency Swanky, funding hiring, service expansion and selective acquisitions.

M&S says Auror platform is helping cut store violence, with nine in 10 colleagues feeling safer as police use sharper data to target repeat offenders.

Apex Computing turns firewall upgrades into planned security strategy, helping clients avoid breaches, downtime and costly distressed buys.

IDHL launches IDHL Labs, a group-wide AI incubator backed by GBP £1.5 million to fast-track automation, tooling and data-driven services.

AI data centres are set to strain power grids, labour and emissions targets, forcing the UK and Australia to rethink energy and skills plans.

US tech giants pledge USD $42 billion investment to boost UK AI, quantum computing, and nuclear sectors amid calls for equal UK benefits in partnerships.

IDHL appoints Jonathan Healey as Group Technology Director to lead AI and technology strategy, boosting innovation across its UK and US operations.

Dan Wensley has been appointed CEO of the Global Technology Industry Association, aiming to boost member growth and global IT community engagement.

Matillion has launched its Data Productivity Cloud on Snowflake Marketplace, enhancing data integration and AI features for customers in the Snowflake ecosystem.

UiPath has acquired Manchester-based AI firm Peak, aiming to enhance its vertical AI solutions and expand its market presence across various industries.

PushON in Manchester has appointed Liam Gibson as its new Business Development Manager, aiming to enhance growth in its eCommerce and digital marketing services.

KOMI Group has announced a remarkable 45% rise in annual turnover, bolstered by a 77% surge in Q4 revenues, as the Manchester-based digital media firm plans US expansion.

Netacea has secured an additional GBP £4 million investment from Mercia Asset Management to enhance its fight against sophisticated bot attacks.

IDHL unveils a major rebrand, consolidating WMG, Ingenuity Digital, and others into one entity, aiming to drive growth through unified digital marketing efforts.

The London Internet Exchange (LINX) has expanded its US partnership with Microsoft, launching Azure Peering Service at LINX NoVA for enhanced public Microsoft cloud services connectivity.

TEG, live entertainment, sport, ticketing and data provider, announces the acquisition of two international sports businesses, Left Field Live and Rugby Live.

Ransomware attacks have increased by 288% in Q2 2021, with data leaks and double extortion becoming prevalent, warns NCC Group.

Bidwells has released a report that delves into the UK data centre market, the hot locations and whether data centres should go rural or city.