Contract jobs in Manchester
Manchester is the largest contract market outside the capital. MediaCity, Spinningfields and the public-sector programmes around the city all hire contractors, and day rates sit a step under London for the same skill.
Updated 1 November 20264 min read
The contract market in Manchester
Manchester is the largest contract market outside the capital. MediaCity, Spinningfields and the public-sector programmes around the city all hire contractors, and day rates sit a step under London for the same skill.
Manchester day rates usually sit under an equivalent London rate for the same skill. A London rate with a Manchester commute is rare. Read the number on the row before you assume the city is paying for the travel.
Who hires
The work follows media, financial services, digital agencies and the NHS. Agencies cover most of the adverts. The end client is often named only once you speak to them, which is another reason the day rate and the IR35 status need to be visible before that call.
Skills that turn up repeatedly are on the skill directory. Each skill has a contract-jobs guide, a day-rate guide and an outside IR35 guide, and the live list sits on the board beside them.
IR35
Public-sector and large-employer contracts in Manchester are inside IR35 more often than a small product company's are. Private-sector delivery work is where outside still shows up. Outside IR35 jobs and inside IR35 jobs split the board on the words the advert used.
We do not re-determine status. If the advert states it, the row states it. If the advert is silent, the row says so, rather than guessing a side that would help the click.
How to search
Search Manchester with a radius if you can travel, because plenty of adverts name a town in the commute rather than the city itself. Add a skill from jobs by skill once you know which market you are in. Membership removes the 48-hour delay and unlocks the apply link on every job.
New contracts are added through the day. The ones from the last 48 hours are the ones most likely to still be open, which is why they are the member tier.
Live roles on the board
These contracts are on the board now. The day rate and IR35 status are public. The link to the original advert is for members.
- Microsoft Dynamics 365 & Power Platform Support Consultant — Manchester
- SOC Analyst Level 2 — Manchester
- Network Security Engineer — Manchester (M1), M1, £400-£450/day Inside
- Network Security Engineer — Manchester, Lancashire, £400-£450/day
- Senior Java Developer - 3 Month Contract - Stockport/Hybrid — Stockport, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom Outside
- Data Engineer — Manchester
- Data Programme Manager — Manchester, Lancashire, £700/day
- Data Programme Manager — Manchester (M1), £700/day Outside
See live contracts in Manchester · Membership unlocks apply links and the first 48 hours