The Government Communication Headquarters (GCHQ) is currently recruiting for a number of roles in Manchester.
Whether it’s something you’re aware of, or it’s rather fittingly been kept under wraps, the country’s intelligence and security organisation actually has an office base right here in Manchester city centre.
GCHQ is responsible for providing signals intelligence and information assurance to the government and the UK’s armed forces.
In a nutshell, the main goal is to “keep our country safe”.
We're not always looking for qualifications – we're also looking for potential.
A career with us opens the door to our excellent training and development programmes to allow you to flourish.
While the main hub of the over 100-year old organisation is actually based down in Cheltenham, other office locations include London, Scarborough, Lincolnshire, Cornwall, and of course, Manchester.
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Working alongside MI5 and MI6, the organisation combines technology and intelligence to counter sophisticated threats such as terrorism, cyber attacks and more – and you can now apply to be a part of the action at “the heart of the nation’s security” as GCHQ is recruiting for roles in our region.
Here’s some of the jobs currently up for grabs.
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Specialist Technical Analyst
Salary – £28 642 + the opportunity to qualify for specialist skills payments ranging from £5,000 to £23,000+ per annum in the role.
Role – According to the job description on the GCHQ website, this position is an operational role within GCHQ that is responsible for analysis of industrial systems data and making recommendations.
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This post is part an analytical team, and the successful candidate will play a role in informing and shaping HM government outcomes.
“This is a unique and exciting opportunity to work at the centre of intelligence.”
You can find more information about the role of Specialist Technical Analyst, and stick an application in here.
The main hub of the over 100-year old security and intelligence organisation is based in Cheltenham / Credit: GCHQ
Senior and Lead Software Engineer
Salary – £37,639 – £59,210 (depending on skills, experience and job role – package includes basic salary and concessionary payment).
Role – According to the job description on the GCHQ website, successful candidates will be passionate about developing software, have a curiosity for new technology and new ways of solving problems, thrive working in diverse teams with other highly capable software engineers, have potential to be a future leader on technology, design, feature development or teams, and be interested in a role that gives them space to innovate and learn new skills.
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“You’ll be central to our work to keep the country safe.”
You can find more information about the role of Senior and Lead Software Engineer, and stick an application in here.
European Language Graduate
Salary – £30,831 (which includes a concessionary payment).
Role: According to the job description on the GCHQ website, successful applicants will be talented, flexible, and committed individuals from all backgrounds with a 2:1 degree in at least two languages – French, German, Italian, Portuguese, or Spanish – and a linguistic ability of a very high order to carry out the duties of transcription, translation, analysis and research.
The role is available to graduates who are “keen to use their existing language skills and for those interested in learning a new language.”
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You can find more information about the role, and stick an application in here.
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Haven’t found a role suitable for you?
GCHQ is offering Mancunians the chance to register interest for a variety of roles that will become available in our region over the upcoming months, with the organisation’s website stating that “it doesn’t matter where you are in your career, as long as you’re interested in learning or have experience of working in a more technical role.”
We employ people with a variety of experience, skills and qualifications in a wide range of roles, from project management and finance to HR and procurement.
The roles that GCHQ will be hiring for in upcoming months are:
Infrastructure Engineer
Network Engineer
Information Assurance
Software Developer and Engineers
You can keep your eye out and register your interest via the GCHQ website here.
Featured Image – GCHQ
UK News
The 2027 World Climbing Series is coming to Manchester
Danny Jones
In yet more huge sporting news for Greater Manchester, the 2027 World Climbing Series is coming to 0161 later this year.
We’ve had plenty of big peaks of late, but things seem to just keep going up and up.
Set to host the global event for the first time in our history, Manchester will welcome the World Climbing Series (WCS), which is set to include both Olympic and Paralympic disciplines ahead of the next Summer Games in 2028.
2027 will mark the 38th edition of the series, which will also be one of only a handful to be held in the North – it’s just down to our city to make it the best.
Officially announced on Friday, 16 January, the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) confirmed the return to the UK.
Founded back in 1989, the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) is coming up on four decades since the competition first began – Leeds being chosen as the inaugural hosts – the event has come a long way since then.
The IFSC’s rebranding of the annual bouldering, lead and speed trials to the modern WSC, which began last year, was initially revealed back in 2023.
Welcoming continental talent right down to the youth level, the upcoming 2026 World Climbing Series is taking place in the summer and will be hosted by the city of Innsbruck in Austria.
As for the WSC’s Manchester debut, which is being organised in collaboration with the City Council, Manchester Accommodation BID, MCR Active and the National Lottery via UK Sport investment.
It’s not the only big sporting celebration that the Council will be supporting in 2027.
Paul Ratcliffe, CEO of the British Mountaineering Council, said in an official statement: “It’s exciting to be able to confirm that a World Series climbing event will return to the UK in 2027 as part of the BMC’s major event programme.
“Hosting a competition of this scale in Manchester is a strong statement about the UK’s place on the international climbing stage and a great opportunity for our athletes, fans, the climbing community and the wider public to experience the sport at the very highest level.
“Our ‘Route to Adventure’ strategy sets out how we will build on moments like this to support people into climbing and help them progress, whatever their starting point. Using major events to inspire participation, strengthen pathways and reinforce our commitment to inclusion is central to our long-term approach.”
Scheduled to take place in June, you can find out more information about the 2027 World Climbing Series in Manchester by signing up for the official event mailing list HERE.
The Tour de France is coming to Manchester
Danny Jones
It’s official: both the male and female Tour de France are coming to Greater Manchester and nine other destinations across the UK in 2027.
As one of the biggest locations on the list, it’s another big sporting landmark for us Mancs.
Confirmed on Thursday, 15 January, the men’s race and the Tour de France Femmes (TdFF) will be passing through our region next summer.
Revealing the news in an exciting announcement video on social media, you can see the other cities and towns that the world-famous endurance event will be hitting here:
With Greater Manchester boasting not only the National Cycling Centre, but having already hosted the Tour of Britain – which has passed through Altrincham on multiple ocassions – we’re well-versed when it comes to the sport.
It’s been more than a decade since the Tour de France last took place in the UK, with London and Yorkshire hosting three stages of the biggest date on the annual cycling calendar back in 2014.
Fast forward a dozen years, and not only will they both be participating again, but Great Britain will see dual Grand Départs for men and women for the very first time.
Not only are we buzzing that the racing will be returning to our friends in Leeds and Sheffield, but also nice to see other Northern regions lending their roads and stunning landscapes, such as the Lake District and wider parts of Cumbria.
You can see the full route map broken down below.
🇬🇧 Leeds, Manchester, Sheffield, London 🇬🇧
💛 Grand Départ Great Britain 2027: in the footsteps of the pioneers!
— Le Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift (@LeTourFemmes) January 15, 2026
Speaking in an official press release, race director Christian Prudhomme said: “The UK has always welcomed the Tour with passion and pride, and the route details we are revealing today reflect the beauty and diversity of Britain’s terrain.”
“Bringing both Grand Départs here is a testament to the strength of our partnership with British Cycling and the enthusiasm of the UK.”
TdFF counterpart, Marion Rousse, added: “The UK has played an important role in the history of women’s cycling, with champions such as Lizzie Deignan.
“Starting the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift in Leeds is a strong choice, closely linked to this heritage and to the enthusiasm of a public that knows and loves the Tour. These stages clearly reflect the race’s ambition: to continue growing women’s cycling and to inspire future generations.”
The Manc -
30th June 2021 
