Google opening Manchester office

The world's largest search engine, Google, is to open its first UK regional office in Manchester.

The company said it had chosen the city because it had the right mix of companies and talent.

Kate Burns, head of Google's UK Operations, said a small staff would run the office in Oxford Road but that the firm expected this would expand.

The Manchester base will deal with advertisers and other clients in the north of the UK.

Ms Burns said: "Manchester is an ideal location for us.

"It's got the right mix of businesses, it's got a great pool for us in terms of talent, there's great universities in Manchester and we're always looking for highly educated individuals.

"Finally it's got the combination of all the characteristics to establish a foothold really quickly and grow at the rate we expect."