The tech company keeping Manchester in Sync for nearly 30 years
Over three decades, Sync has played a crucial role in nourishing a restlessly creative city - helping to cement Manchester’s reputation as an artistic hub.
‘Silver linings’ has become a popular topic since the pandemic swept Britain.
It’s human nature to find positives even in the most disastrous of situations. The ability to look on the bright side keeps people going even when times are tough… and few of us have experienced anything as tricky as the past 10 months.
The biggest silver lining for many during this period has been tech.
If a government-imposed stay at home order had to happen, at least it was in 2020 – an age where tech is so powerful and accessible, we’ve been able to stay in touch with loved ones, earn a wage from home, and fill any furlough time by streaming box sets.
Even 10 years ago, things would have been very different.
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Tech has been deemed so valuable, in fact, that some shops have been classified as ‘essential’; meaning they’ve been permitted to remain open through lockdowns to keep the country running.
One of those is right here in Manchester: Sync.
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Based on Deansgate in the city centre, Sync was born of GBM Digital, who themselves were part of a design and print house set up in Ardwick all the way back in 1992.
Over the subsequent three decades, the company has played a crucial role in nourishing a restlessly creative city – helping to cement Manchester’s reputation as an artistic hub.
Sync has been so impactful over the years, in fact, that the company has acquired ‘partnership status’ with the quartet of software juggernauts: Apple, Google, Microsoft and Adobe.
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The business has teams across Britain, but the physical three-level Deansgate venue is considered something of a HQ – containing a tech shop, Apple service & repair centre, and a training and conference centre.
Throughout lockdown, Sync Deansgate remained a place where customers could get their Macs, iPads, iPhones, Watches and Beats under Apple warranty fixed – tracking the repairs every step of the way.
Booking slots are posted online – with customers sent specially-designed totes via a courier. People simply pop their device in the tote and the courier whisks it back – before delivering the fully-repaired product.
Sync has served as the city’s digital support network during this difficult period. But instead of simply providing emergency-style patch and fix work, the brand has also continued to raise the bar.
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For example, Klarna 0% finance has been made available for all Apple products from Sync (where baskets are under £1,000) – an offer unavailable anywhere else in the UK, let alone Manchester.
Sync is also the only company of its kind to provide full Mac configurators for schools and businesses – giving organisations the incredible power to build their own Mac for their own needs.
Staff are different, too – weighing with next-level aftercare for individuals and organisations.
Scott Bordoni, Head of Operations at Sync, described the company as a “tech business with heart”.
“Our goal is to inform and educate,” he explains.
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“Our teams practice a consultancy-first approach, utilising their technical expertise and industry knowledge to address key challenges for our customers.”
Adil Ladha, Digital Marketing Specialist, says it’s this very ideology that has set Sync apart from its competitors.
So often, a business-customer relationship barely stretches beyond the point of sale. But at Sync, they see the transaction as just the beginning.
“For us it’s about the development of long-term relationships,” Adil states.
“We put time, effort and energy into supporting our customers – giving them the opportunity to upgrade and futureproof quickly and easily whenever they desire.”
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Alongside repairs, one of the most valuable services Sync continued to provide during lockdown was training sessions – which were shifted online.
Scott says: “Prior to the pandemic, our teams were working at national scale, running and supporting over 280 days of face-to-face training and informational events per annum – all at zero-cost, in order to support businesses and schools.
“As key workers, our national teams remained in operation throughout the first lockdown, supporting businesses, public sector organisations (including the NHS), and schools – helping to ensure that other businesses, organisations and key workers were able to continue through the crisis.”
Sync delivered an astonishing 110 free skills-based training sessions to businesses and key workers during the first portion of the pandemic – all-the-while remaining on hand to keep IT systems fully functional.
Siding with the big boys has helped, of course.
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Sync’s direct line to Apple means that customers get the creme-de-la-creme of tech services, supported by the kind of insight and knowledge that you’d find at the Genius Bar.
Being closely allied with Apple on this many fronts looks impressive on paper. But it’s even more applause-worthy when you realise what’s required to get on the team.
Getting accredited by Apple doesn’t just involve firing off a charming email or launching a savvy piece of modern marketing that turns heads at Silicon Valley. Sync is tasked with repeatedly demonstrating the highest standards in knowledge and expertise – as well as frequently providing evidence of capability and performance.
It’s tough stuff, hitting such high standards day in, day out. But Sync staff appear to revel in the challenge.
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The brand boasts around 70 employees nationwide today – and some of them were at GBM when it launched 28 years ago.
The team have grown up together to build something quite special – and their reputation is spreading.
Scott adds: “Whilst the technology and deployment practices have updated through the years, our mission statement has continued to stay the same: Delivering customer-centric solutions via a consultancy-lead approach.”
The typically hectic stretch of tarmac on Deansgate has quietened down again in recent weeks due to Lockdown 2.0. But Sync is still operating.
The Barton Arcade site remains open for repairs by appointment only – with ‘collect and repair’ services available to anyone who can’t visit the store.
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Almost every single person in Manchester has relied on tech in some capacity to carry us through the toughest few months many of us can remember.
Teachers. Nurses. Office workers. Joe Public. We’ve managed to bear up and power through via laptop and phone screens.
Take tech out of the pandemic, and you’re left with a totally different picture – probably one with fewer businesses, isolated communities, and significantly lower morale.
Being in a digital era has at least offered something of a silver lining.
And it’s Sync that’s helped to keep that silver lining intact.
Business
A £1m health optimisation hub with breakthrough ‘brain health technology’ is opening in Manchester
Daisy Jackson
A brand-new £1m health optimisation clinic is set to open near Manchester Airport this month, with a North West-first breakthrough ‘brain health technology’ offering.
Projuvenate will be a flagship 3350 sq ft medically-led clinic, with ExoMind™, offering non-invasive treatment for mental wellness.
The space will be bringing cutting-edge treatments to Greater Manchester that are normally associated with high-end private wellness clinics in London.
Projuvenate promises three key wellness pillars – health optimisation, physiotherapy, and aesthetic wellness.
Part of its health optimisation pillar will be ExoMind, a breakthrough treatment that uses targeted electromagnetic stimulation to deliver precise pulses to key areas of the brain linked to emotional regulation, focus, and motivation.
Early trials of this FDA-approved treatment show 88% of patients report improved mental wellness, with 78% experiencing better mood, sleep, and emotional regulation.
Other health optimisation treatments include HaloRed™ salt and red light therapy, longevity treatments, and intimate health solutions such as electromagnetic pelvic floor training.
There’ll also be elite physiotherapy as part of Projuvenate’s offering, with rehabilitation and injury prevention from experts in elite sport.
Advanced equipment patients will be able to access includes the R-Force™ anti-gravity treadmill, targeted cryotherapy, and more.
It’s open now at Manchester GreenThe new Projuvenate wellness centreProjuvenate is the first North West clinic to offer ExoMindProjuvenate will offer physiotherapy in a state-of-the-art gym
And the final pillar, aesthetic wellness, offers non-invasive treatments to enhance appearance, strength and confidence, from skin and face therapies to injectables, body sculpting, and hair vitality.
Projuvenate is founded by Dr Libby Artingstall, a former consultant psychiatrist, and her brother Rob Artingstall, an experienced performance physiotherapist and Head Physio with England Rugby League.
They hope to bridge the gap between healthcare, rehabilitation, and proactive wellbeing.
Dr Libby Artingstall said: “Throughout medical school and much of my career as a doctor, the focus was on what happens when the body or mind goes wrong. But I became increasingly compelled by the question: how do we help people stay well, not just now, but long into the future? That’s what led to Projuvenate.
“Wellness isn’t one-dimensional. At Projuvenate we bring together advanced aesthetic wellness, expert physiotherapy, and science-backed health optimisation to support the skin, body and mind in a fully integrated, medically led environment. ExoMind™ is the perfect example of this philosophy—giving people an evidence-based way to support clarity, focus, and emotional strength.”
She added: “This opening marks a new era for health in the North West. People no longer need to travel to London for these preventative therapies. We’re proud to be putting Manchester on the map for clinical excellence and proactive care that supports every dimension of wellbeing.”
A medical consultation is £75, redeemable against treatment within three months, is required before starting any treatment or programme.
Treatments start from £45 for HaloRed™ therapy, and a six-session ExoMind™ package is priced at £2,200.
Projuvenate will open on 18 September at Manchester Green.
Manchester United announce record revenue despite on-pitch struggles
Danny Jones
Manchester United have declared a record revenue figure for the full 2025 fiscal term, even with their poor performances on the pitch over the past 12 months.
They may still be a continually struggling Premier League side who seem to be in a perpetual state of transition, but they remain nothing short of a global giant in terms of sporting brands.
Yes, despite Man United recording two of the worst finishes in domestic history in the previous two campaigns and head coach Ruben Amorim having already overseen the worst start to a top-flight season in the modern era following the defeat on derby day, the football club has reached a monetary milestone.
According to their official reports for the fourth and final quarter of the financial year, they brought in a record-breaking £666.5 million throughout 2024/25 – but, as always, it’s more complicated than that.
"There are some tough decisions to be made"
BREAKING: Manchester United have announced record revenues for 2024/25 of £666.5m – but the club still made an overall loss of £33m 🚨 pic.twitter.com/jlQS7SMjJ8
Released on Wednesday, 17 September, Manchester United PLC confirmed that they had managed to record the biggest revenue figures on several fronts despite crashing out of the Europa League, finishing 15th in the table overall and failing to secure a place in any European competition this season.
The first half of Amorim‘s tenure at Old Trafford saw the club’s worst competitive placing since 1973/74, a.k.a. the last time the Red Devils were relegated from the first division.
Nevertheless, a fresh shirt sponsorship agreement with Snapdragon, new brand partnerships with the likes of Coca-Cola, an extension of their contract with travel experience company, SportsBreaks, and numerous other deals saw United achieve a record commercial revenue of £333.3m.
Elsewhere, match revenue was also up and reached new heights, tallying approximately £160.3m in the 12 months leading up to 30 June 2025 – the most they have ever registered when it comes to ticket sales, concessions, and other transactions in and around game days.
Although this number is a reduction of more than 70.8% what they lost last year (£113.2m), there is still plenty of concern among supporters over how money is still not only being spent but moved around.
Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the INEOS board did pay sizeable chunks of MUFC’s debt, which has piled up at an alarming rate in the two decades since the Glazer takeover, but there has still been plenty of borrowing.
In addition to a number of shorter-term loans, there has also been an increased level of amortisation and significant transfer spending this summer, despite being admittedly cash-strapped.
As well as actually having less money to play with over the past 12 months, they are also set to receive less in TV rights and broadcasting revenues this season due to not making it into any European competition, hence why they went on a post-season Asian tour to try and make up for funds lost.
It’s estimated that the business earned a further £8 million from these games, but it’s also worth noting that significant sums have been spent not only on new signings but also on severance fees and redundancy packages, so it’s hard to assess how much this extra injection helped with the fine margins.
While it's good to see that we're paying down our long-term debts, I'm a bit worried about how the club have maybe over-leveraged short-term borrowings. Debt restructure needed imo. pic.twitter.com/LQuUdbzK1h
Divisive CEO and former City Football Group exec, Omar Berrada, wrote in the comments section of the full findings and financial report: “As we settle into the 2025/26 season, we are working hard to improve the club in all areas.
“On the field, we are pleased with the additions we have made to our men’s and women’s first team squads over the summer, as we build for the long term. Off the field, we are emerging from a period of structural and leadership change with a refreshed, streamlined organisation equipped to deliver on our sporting and commercial objectives.”
He adds: “We are also investing [in upgrading] our infrastructure, including completion of the £50m redevelopment of our men’s first team building at Carrington, on time and on budget, following prior investment in our women’s team facilities, to create a world-class environment for our players and staff.
“Meanwhile, planning continues to meet our ambition of developing a new stadium at Old Trafford as part of a transformational regeneration of the surrounding community.
Total Manchester United revenue may be up but they’re about to shell out seismic outlay for their new stadium costs.
Berrada signs off by insistig that for the club to have “generated record revenues during such a challenging year for the club demonstrates the resilience which is a hallmark of Manchester United.
“Our commercial business remains strong as we continue to deliver appealing products and experiences for our fans, and best-in-class value to our partners.”
“As we start to feel the benefits of our cost reduction programme, there is significant potential for improved financial performance, which will, in turn, support our overriding priority: success on the pitch.”
What do you make of Manchester United’s 2024/25 annual report and how it fits into the wider picture/struggles elsewhere around the club?