Greater Manchester AI credentials recognised in SAS AI Cities Index 2025

Greater Manchester has once again been highlighted as a leading centre for AI in the UK in the SAS AI Cities Index 2025.

For the second consecutive year, Manchester has topped the rankings in the index, making it the city best positioned to harness the economic and social potential of AI. Salford also rose to fifth place in this year’s analysis highlighting how the wider city-region is also benefiting.

The annual index produced by data and AI company, SAS, evaluates cities across seven key criteria, including job opportunities, innovation funding secured, education opportunities, and business activity in the AI sector.

Manchester’s ranking suggests it could be a prime candidate for designation as an official AI Growth Zone under the UK Government’s AI Action Plan, which was announced earlier this year. The city has retained its lead thanks to high numbers of AI related jobs at over 200 AI specialist businesses. Salford’s rise to fifth place has been supported by high numbers of AI events hosted at the MediaCityUK tech hub, as well as investments in AI by the major broadcasters based there.

While Stockport failed to rank as highly as its neighbours, the borough is also benefiting from the city-region’s growing AI ecosystem, with Kao Data bringing forward a £350 million data centre in Reddish to provide the computing power to tech innovations across the region.

Leeds, St Albans and Bristol rounded out the top five, with larger tech hubs such as Cambridge and Edinburgh notable omissions, having fallen to eight and ninth place since making the top five last year.

Glyn Townsend, Senior Director of Education Services at SAS for Europe, the Middle East and Africa said:

“Manchester’s continued lead in the SAS AI Cities Index shows the huge potential of regional innovation when it’s properly supported – but it also highlights the urgent need to extend that momentum to smaller cities and towns across the UK.

“As the government pushes forward with its AI Action Plan, it’s essential that investment, infrastructure, and education opportunities are scaled beyond the big urban centres. Cities like Dundee and St Albans making major leaps in this year’s rankings prove that with the right support, emerging hubs can play a critical role in the UK’s AI future.

“If we want to unlock the full economic and social potential of AI, we need to build an inclusive, nationwide ecosystem – one where no region is left behind.”

The full SAS AI Cities Index 2025 report is available from the SAS website here.