Manchester 'a good location for small businesses'

Date: 01/09/2011

Small businesses may want to purchase local phone numbers and consider establishing operations in the north-west.

Office space provider Magnus explained London is not always the best location for less-sizeable enterprises.

Instead, some might wish to consider situating themselves in Manchester, as it has established itself as England's second city and offers many opportunities, the firm claimed.

These include good transport links, a wide variety of different commercial spaces and attractive, easy-to-reach residential suburbs.

Steve Widdowson, director at the commercial property specialist, said: "Setting up office in London does not always make sense - it obviously all depends on the circumstances of the specific company."

This is especially true if a firm's customer base is largely in the north, he added.

If enterprises decide London is the place for them, they could follow the advice of head of investment management at London Central Portfolio Hugh Best, who recommended looking at properties in Mayfair and Knightsbridge.