Another Irish tech firm picks Manchester for UK expansion drive

Galvia AI, a leading international artificial intelligence company based in Ireland, has announced its UK expansion with a new Manchester office and plans for job creation in the region.

Headquartered in Galway, Galvia will base its UK operations at the Turing Innovation Catalyst (TIC), within Sister – Manchester’s new £1.7bn science and technology innovation district.

Galvia unifies business data and turns it into connected intelligence that predicts, prompts, and drives smarter decisions in real time. The Manchester investment is set to create double-digit job growth and reinforce the city’s position as a growing hub for AI and digital innovation.

Galvia’s clients range from SMEs in retail, hospitality, and manufacturing to global organisations such as Atos, Nestlé, NTT Data Business Solutions, and several top-ranking universities.

READ MORE: Why Irish tech firm Galvia AI is betting on Manchester for its UK expansion

At a high-profile launch event last night (3rd June) at TIC, Galvia unveiled plans to empower SMEs across Greater Manchester and the North West to harness the power of AI. The event gathered business leaders, policymakers, and AI innovators, highlighting the strategic importance of Galvia’s UK expansion.

John Clancy, CEO and Founder of Galvia AI, said: “We’re excited to establish roots in Manchester – a city with a dynamic tech ecosystem and a clear vision for innovation. Our goal is to empower SMEs by removing barriers to AI adoption and providing practical, scalable solutions that integrate seamlessly with existing systems.”

SMEs often struggle to make use of their data due to siloed systems and limited resources. Galvia addresses this gap with trusted technology that has been developed for both enterprises and SMEs since its founding in 2017. It brings together data from across an organisation, unlocking new insights, driving improvement and enhancing profitability.

At the heart of Galvia’s Manchester strategy is the Galvia AI Adoption Accelerator, a five-week programme launching in September in partnership with TIC and law firm Addleshaw Goddard. It’s designed to give SME leaders a clear understanding of what to do with their data and a strategic plan of how to integrate AI into their business.

The accelerator is central to Galvia’s mission to make AI work for all – providing SMEs with a fast, practical route to leveraging their data and driving growth through innovation.

Galvia also intends to partner with SME technology providers in sectors such as retail and hospitality to apply the benefits of AI to their platforms.

“AI isn’t just for big-budget tech businesses. It can and should make a real, tangible difference for SMEs, which are the core of the economy,” added Clancy. “Together with our partners, we’re very proud to bring our accelerator programme to Manchester. It’s already proven highly successful in Ireland, equipping participants with the knowledge and tools to stay ahead of industry changes and maintain a competitive edge.

“We bring seven years of real-world experience in AI – and in AI years, that’s a lifetime. We’ve worked with organisations and data sets of all sizes to make AI deliver real strategic value.”

Galvia will also be hosting a free AI Discovery Workshop on 10th July at TIC for SMEs interested in exploring how AI can drive the growth of their business and understand more about the AI Adoption Accelerator. Limited spaces are available, so contact [email protected] soon to book or learn more.

Bev Craig, leader of Manchester City Council, said of the new arrival: “Manchester has always been a place where ideas thrive and businesses scale with purpose. We’re excited to welcome Galvia to Manchester and support the launch of their accelerator programme – a real opportunity for local SMEs to engage with the potential of AI in a practical, meaningful way. By removing barriers to AI adoption, initiatives like this can help unlock the region’s entrepreneurial potential and ensure innovation is accessible to all. Our £2bn AI ecosystem is no different, employing almost 15,000 people and leveraging our existing strengths across digital, tech and cyber.”

Galvia is just the latest in a string of Irish arrivals choosing Manchester for UK expansion recently, including the arrival of DMAC Media earlier this year. Joe Manning, managing director at MIDAS, Manchester’s Inward Investment Agency said: “Ireland is one of Greater Manchester’s most important markets, with a whole host of Irish companies choosing to expand here. We’re very pleased to welcome Galvia, with their decision to set up a UK base in our city-region reinforcing Greater Manchester’s status as a key gateway for Irish businesses.

“As the UK’s most AI-ready city, we offer the right mix of talent and support for tech companies to grow…we’re becoming a key European destination for AI businesses looking to expand.”


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