Manchester has been voted the coolest regional city in the UK, outside of London, according to new research from Exterion Media’s award-winning national consumer panel work.shop.play., which reveals how urbanites feel about different cities across the UK.
It also found that urbanites from across the UK believe that Manchester has the best nightlife and transport links, outside of the capital.
Mancunians also consider transport links to be the best thing about their city, followed by the shops, friendly people, parks and restaurants. In fact, 73 per cent of Mancunians believe Manchester is the best city in the UK for shopping, whilst 67 per cent believe they live in the coolest city in the UK, above London.
Not only this, but over half (60 per cent) of Mancunians believe that investing in higher grade offices is good for Manchester’s economy and will make it a more attractive city for businesses, supporting development in the city. Nine out of 10 see Manchester attracting young people from all over the UK, further positioning Manchester as the regional capital of the UK.
The research is part of a year-long nationwide initiative from Exterion Media, Urbanology, designed to celebrate and promote key cities outside of London. Exterion Media invited primary school pupils from across Manchester to take part in its Kids’ Wrapped Bus creative competition, launched in partnership with Stagecoach. 80 school children submitted colourful and creative designs depicting what they love about Manchester, to be wrapped by Exterion Media around one of Stagecoach’s double-decker buses.
Audrey Watts, aged 8, from Cavendish Community Primary School was crowned the winner of the competition by a judging panel including Exterion Media and Stagecoach. Audrey’s bus wrap design features the LGBT Pride flag, the Manchester City FC emblem and the National Football Museum, as well as other Manchester landmarks, such as The Lowry Bridge and the City Library. The wrapped bus will be live on the streets on Manchester for a minimum of four weeks.
In addition to her winning design being printed on the bus, Audrey won a family day trip to the SEALIFE Manchester and tickets for her and her family to watch a Manchester City football match.
Jason Cotterrell, Group Development Director at Exterion Media, said: “Manchester is a thriving city and a business hub rich with culture. At Exterion Media, we are proud to be investing in Manchester and delighted to use our iconic wrapped bus advertising as a way to celebrate the city and its people. Audrey’s vision of Manchester will now be on tour around the city, contributing to the community spirit that Mancunians value so highly and enhancing the urban environment.”
Elisabeth Tasker, Managing Director, Stagecoach Manchester, at Stagecoach, said: “Launching the Kids Wrapped Bus competition with Exterion has been a great way to engage with the local community and reveal what they love about living in Manchester. The research by work.shop.play. showed that Mancunians think the city’s excellent transport links are the best thing about the city so it’s great to bring this to life with the launch of the bus.”
