Another day, another new title Manchester can be proud of.
Fresh off the back of being named one of the best places to visit in the UK in 2024 by Time Out, and followed by the New York Times giving us a shoutout as one of the best cities in the world to head to this year – and also not so long after we’ve been ranked as the ‘chlamydia capital’ of the UK too (but we not quite so proud of that one, obviously) – Manchester has found itself at the top of another list.
This time around, our city has been praised for its culture and artistic vision, as Manchester has been named the ‘creative capital’ of the UK – or, otherwise known as, the country’s most creative city.
Manchester’s newest title comes as Adobe Express recently-ran a survey of 2,000 UK adults, and learned that just one in six (15%) Brits are planning to take up a hobby as one of their new year’s resolutions in 2024.
The same survey found that more than two thirds (67%) of the nation declared themselves as ‘very creative’.
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Manchester has been named the ‘creative capital’ of the UK / Credit: Marketing Manchester | Kimpton Clocktower Hotel
But which UK towns and cities officially lead the way on the creativity scale?
Well, in a bid to find out, Adobe Express experts took a look at look a variety of factors, such as the number of jobs available in the art sector, the number of museums and galleries, and the number of notable artists born in each of the 30 towns or cities compared within the study, to come up with the top 10 list that Manchester sits atop of.
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Top 10 most creative cities in the UK
Manchester
Brighton and Hove
Bristol
Leeds
Edinburgh
Liverpool
Newcastle
Glasgow
Norwich
Nottingham
Manchester claimed the title with an overall creativity score of 8.7/10, as we’ve apparently got a whopping 111 notable creatives per 100,000 people – including musicians, painters, and writers – as well as around 31 relevant job roles per 100,000 residents in the creative arts sector too.
More than two thirds (67%) of Brits declared themselves as ‘very creative’ / Credit: Flickr
Brighton and Hove follow close behind us in second place, with the rest of the top five being rounded out by Bristol, Leeds, and Edinburgh.
Fellow Northern cities Liverpool and Newcastle also feature in the top 10.
At the other end of the spectrum, however, the UK’s least creative town out of all 30 locations analysed was found to be Northampton,with an overall creativity score of just 2.0/10, and it’s joined near the bottom of the list by other places such as Hull and Stoke-on-Trent.
Featured Image – Marketing Manchester
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Victim named and murder investigation launched after young woman is killed in Newton Heath stabbing
Emily Sergeant
The victim of a street stabbing in Newton Heath this week has been named for the first time as a murder investigation continues.
It comes after officers from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) responded to reports of a disturbance at around 2am yesterday (Thursday 15 October) on Dorking Avenue, in the Newton Heath area of Manchester, and when they arrived on the scene, they found a woman in her 20s with serious injuries that were ‘consistent with a stabbing’.
Despite best efforts of all emergency services involved, the young woman was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
As the murder investigation progresses, the woman has now been publicly named and a photo of her has been released for the first time.
She has been named as 26-year-old Alisha Samuels.
At this time, one man, aged 25, has been arrested on suspicion of murder, and a man and woman, aged 61 and 38, have been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender, and they all remain in custody – with officers continuing their enquiries to establish the full circumstances of this incident.
Alisha’s family have asked for privacy whilst they deal with the devastating loss of their loved one, GMP has stated.
“We are continuing to urge people who may have information in relation to this incident to please come forward to support our investigation and bring justice for Alisha,” the police force said in a public appeal.
Anyone who may have witnessed the incident, or has mobile phone, CCTV, or doorbell footage, is urged to call GMP on 0161 856 5464, or contact them via the Major Incident Public Portal here.
Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111
Featured Image – GMP (Family Handout)
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Former supply teacher jailed for multiple upskirting and AI sex offences across Greater Manchester
Emily Sergeant
A former supply teacher has been jailed for multiple upskirting and AI sex offences in schools across Greater Manchester.
Abusali Rahman – a British national of Bangladeshi ethnicity from Salford – appeared in Bolton Crown Court this week for his sentencing after first being charged with, and then pleading guilty to, several offences.
The offences are including, but not limited to, 12 counts of taking an indecent photograph/pseudo-photograph of a child (images obtained by upskirting), three counts of making indecent photograph / pseudo-photograph of a child (making AI-generated images), and one count of attempting to meet girl under 16 following sexual grooming.
The offences are alleged to have taken place between December 2023 and June 2025, according to Greater Manchester Police (GMP).
Twelve girls have been identified in relation to the upskirting offences – aged between 13 and 16 at the time of the alleged offending – at seven high schools in three Greater Manchester boroughs (Bury, Bolton, and Salford).
GMP says it has remained in close contact with the schools, local authorities, and other partners throughout the investigation to ensure all appropriate support is in place for those who need it.
Additionally, the court also heard how Rahman amassed a collection of images of young girls, using AI and other methods to sexualise them.
The images numbered more than 300 in total, ranging from Category A to Category C classifications, and Rahman would post these on social media, often alongside humiliating and disgusting captions.
Rahman was sentenced to six years in prison, and will also be subject to a 20-year Sexual Harm Protection Order.
A former supply teacher has been jailed for child sex offences in schools across Greater Manchester / Credit: GMP
Detective Constable Lisa McGaffin, from GMP’s Bolton Child Protection Team, described Rahman’s crimes as ‘absolutely abhorrent’.
“My thoughts throughout this process have always been with the young girls who have been subject to such indignity,” DC McGaffin said following the sentencing this week. “Their welfare and support will always be a priority for us.
“While working as a teacher – someone who young children should trust and be safe with – Rahman repeatedly took secret photos for his own sick gratification, before posting images online which showed his total disregard for the girls’ respect and dignity.
Emily Sergeant -
22nd January 2024 
