Is Manchester too posh? Study launches to probe why the city may be losing working-class talent

A new study has been launched to examine whether Manchester has become too posh and whether the city is losing its working-class roots in the creative industries. The inquiry, led by Nazir Afzal, the former chief prosecutor who serves as chancellor of the University of Manchester, will assess barriers to participation and explore ways to broaden access to the region’s cultural sector. It reflects mounting concern that Manchester’s transformation—driven by vast investment, new jobs, and an upgraded cityscape—may have come at the expense of its traditional working-class identity.

There is a wealth of research showing that working-class representation in UK creative industries is at its lowest level in decades, and many leading artists have warned that the class ceiling is holding back innovation and creativity, Afzal said. For a city whose cultural heritage was built on working-class voices—from the Gallagher brothers to Caroline Aherne—such concerns are not merely academic. The inquiry will look at how to improve representation across Greater Manchester’s creative economy, spanning theater, film, music, and digital media, with the aim of identifying practical, local solutions that can widen participation and level the playing field for aspiring talent from all backgrounds.

Manchester has long billed itself as a birthplace of working-class culture, and its evolution over the past two decades has included billions in investment and a surge in high-skilled jobs. Critics say that shift has left a gap in the pipeline of working-class talent into high-profile roles in the arts and media, raising questions about access to drama schools, funding, and industry networks. The study’s framing notes that around half of the UK identifies as working class, making the potential loss of such talent a concern for the country’s cultural vitality and social cohesion. Supporters of the inquiry argue that safeguarding Manchester’s cultural core requires deliberate action to remove barriers and expand opportunities for people from traditional working-class backgrounds.

The inquiry is being co-chaired by Avis Gilmore, who said that the last 20 years have seen the infrastructure that once supported a surge of working-class talent in Manchester wither away. Gilmore urged stakeholders to ask whether there could be another Liam Gallagher or Caroline Aherne in today’s climate and what steps would be needed to unlock similar pathways for new generations. Afzal and Gilmore emphasize that the goal is not nostalgia, but practical reform that can help a culturally vibrant region continue to contribute to national life without losing its distinctive voice.

Among the voices contributing to the conversation are actors and writers who point to tangible barriers in access to education, apprenticeships, and professional networks. Coronation Street veteran Julie Hesmondhalgh, who was born in Accrington, Lancashire, has highlighted the importance of grants and financial support that helped her attend drama school. Hesmondhalgh warned that opportunities for working-class youths to break into acting are far more limited than they were in earlier eras, a sentiment echoed by other artists who have viewed talent from similar backgrounds as increasingly hard to cultivate in the current environment.

Former Doctor Who star Christopher Eccleston, who hails from nearby Salford, has also spoken about the corrosive effect of social barriers on creative ambition. He told the Guardian that a background on a council estate should not determine one’s ability to pursue art in any form. The inquiry’s premise is that when the environment for nurturing new talent weakens, a city’s cultural leadership and broader creative output suffer as a result. The panel will survey attitudes among people interested in the creative sector and hold a symposium next year to discuss possible solutions and direct action.

The initiative has backing from the Co-op, which has underscored the broader social value of unlocking local talent. Paul Gerrard, the Co-op’s director of campaigns, public affairs and policy, said that unlocking and unleashing hidden talent across the region will enrich communities throughout Greater Manchester. In addition to the survey, organizers hope partnerships with educational institutions, cultural organizations, and industry bodies will yield concrete programs that broaden access, reduce stigma around seeking opportunities, and create pipelines from working-class communities into mainstream creative careers.

The study signals a broader reckoning with how cities can preserve cultural identity amid rapid economic change. Manchester’s story—once defined by the voices of working-class communities—has evolved into a case study in balancing growth with inclusion. Advocates argue that addressing structural barriers could also spur new kinds of innovation, as diverse backgrounds bring fresh perspectives to writing, performance, and production. Critics, meanwhile, warn against allowing identity to become a barrier to opportunity, insisting that talent should be recognized and cultivated regardless of the social ladder one climbs.

As investigators gather data and map stakeholders, the inquiry’s online survey will collect perspectives from aspiring artists, educators, and industry professionals across Greater Manchester. The symposium planned for 2026 will invite practitioners from music, theatre, film, digital media, and related fields to propose actionable steps to expand access. Nazir Afzal has stressed that the process will be collaborative, with a focus on practical remedies rather than lofty rhetoric, and that the region should remain open to diverse voices that can help Manchester retain its cultural edge while reflecting the city’s evolving identity.