This month I had the opportunity to join Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, City Council Leader Bev Craig and the city’s delegation of representatives in Austin, Texas, to promote economic and cultural ties between the two regions.

Hosting the delegation with our AECOM colleagues in Austin, the goal for the group was clear: grow Manchester’s position on the world stage and emphasise the innovation, ambition and success that our businesses are renowned for.

The visit culminated in Manchester and Austin signing a Friendship Cities Agreement, effectively setting the two cities that share much in common on the path to becoming formal sister-cities. Indeed, we’re both the fastest growing cities in our respective countries and each have rich creative, digital and tech sectors.

Ultimately the partnership will encourage knowledge sharing, business connections and cultural exchanges that help us to address some of the most significant issues of our time.

Decarbonising our cities

Chief among those issues is the recognition that, as they grow, our cities will need to be responsible for major........

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