Partnership
The Oxford Road Corridor partnership is the UK’s longest-standing, formally constituted knowledge quarter organisation.
Bringing together universities, the NHS, the city council, business and the cultural sector, the Oxford Road Corridor provides a shared framework for collaboration and a long-term vision for this unique area. Partners work collectively to create a place where education, research, health, business and creativity can flourish — ensuring the Corridor continues to inspire innovation, attract investment and deliver benefits for Manchester and its communities.
The partnership is led by a board of senior leaders from each partner organisation, alongside cultural leadership representation, helping shape the strategic direction and long-term development of the Corridor.
The University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is one of the world’s leading research universities, ranked 34th globally in the QS World University Rankings 2025 and 5th in the UK for research power in the Government’s Research Excellence Framework 2021. A member of the prestigious Russell Group, it has produced 26 Nobel Prize winners whose discoveries have transformed modern science — from understanding the structure of the atom and developing the computer to isolating graphene. The University is home to major research assets including the National Graphene Institute and Henry Royce Institute, and to leading cultural institutions the Whitworth and Manchester Museum. It combines world-class teaching, pioneering research and a strong civic mission, driving innovation and inclusive growth across the Oxford Road Corridor and beyond.
Manchester Metropolitan University
Manchester Metropolitan University is one of the UK’s leading modern universities, recognised for its strengths in applied research, innovation and industry collaboration. The University is a national leader in degree apprenticeships, helping to widen access to high-value employment and develop future skills across key sectors. Its triple accredited Business School is among the largest in the UK, recognised for its research and enterprise links with industry. Its wider research excellence spans health, sport, children and young people, and the creative industries, supported by major facilities including the Institute of Sport and the School of Digital Arts (SODA). Manchester Met plays a pivotal role in connecting education, business and communities — contributing to inclusive growth and innovation across the Oxford Road Corridor.
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK’s largest and most advanced healthcare organisations, serving a diverse population of almost one million people and anchoring a world-class life sciences and health innovation ecosystem. Bringing together leading hospitals and research centres across the city, the Trust combines clinical excellence with pioneering research and education, holding one of the largest National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) portfolios in the country. As a major employer and research hub, with over 30,000 staff, the Trust is instrumental in attracting investment and driving growth in Manchester’s thriving health and life sciences sector.
Bruntwood
Bruntwood is a family-owned property company with a longstanding connection to the Oxford Road Corridor and a deep commitment to creating places that enable people and businesses to thrive. Its approach is defined by a commitment to sustainability, design quality, and long-term investment in innovation, arts and culture. As part of Bruntwood SciTech – a joint venture with Legal & General – it owns and operates significant land holdings across the Corridor, including Manchester Science Park, where it is the majority shareholder alongside Corridor partners, and Citylabs, developed in partnership with MFT. Bruntwood SciTech transformed the former BBC site with Circle Square through a joint venture with Vita Group, and is working with The University of Manchester to deliver Sister, a major new innovation district. Alongside developing and operating physical spaces, Bruntwood SciTech provides innovation and growth support to help its customers connect, collaborate and grow.
RNCM
The RNCM is internationally recognised as a leading conservatoire and public venue, offering world-class training in classical music, opera, jazz, pop and composition. It blends rigorous education with rich performance opportunities, producing professional musicians of the highest calibre. Alongside teaching and performance, the College is a hub for research in performance practice, pedagogy, composition and music technology, informing national and international practice. With an active programme of concerts, collaborations and community engagement, the RNCM plays a central role in Manchester’s cultural life and contributes significantly to the creative economy of the Oxford Road Corridor.