The Wrap: OBI’s Take February 2026

Another month gone and 2026 is really kicking into gear now – I was lucky enough to attend the Brits at Co op Live, an incredible occasion crackling with Mancunian energy, really showing the city well on the world stage. And that’s not all that happened in February…

Corporate deal of the month
Tech firm Made With Intent raised £2.4m in a funding round led by PXN Ventures & Praetura, part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II. They’ve developed an AI-powered model to assist ecommerce sites by predicting customer intent, with customers reporting leaps in revenue.

Property deal of the month
The Northern Quarter and Ancoats are as vital to giving Manchester its character as any of the more polished, ‘corporate’ areas, and the purchase of Marlsbro House (the chequerboard building) by Hyrum Cook & Barney Cook from Boohoo could bring another listed building into play, adding to standouts like Express and the Hive in a part of town that continues to evolve.

One to watch
Bruntwood SciTech is to invest £17m in reinventing Manchester One, probably Portland Street’s most prominent office building. There’ll be a full refurb of the 131,000 sq ft tower, and also a new 4-storey block with F&B, lounges and roof terrace, moving the Portland St submarket forward. Ciara Keeling.

One for the future
Or maybe ’ones’ for the future’? Adding another top club to our client roster, OBI Sports is part of the team moving forward plans to overhaul Liverpool FC’s academy, a redevelopment giving the footballing stars of the future a platform for success. Charles Henderson

Eyecatcher of the month
Salboy has been one of the busiest firms in the North West in recent years, and it has now launched a construction division available to the wider market, with a focus on time-critical and pressured resi projects. An impressive business who know how to deliver. Nick Russell, Simon Ismail

Business of the month
Huge congrats to all who’ve contributed to Embassy Village, which completed last week. Creating 40 homes for the homeless in railway arches, with 130 organisations contributing pro bono. Well done all, especially James Whittaker, Jodie Moulding, Matthew Moulding, Tim Heatley, Sid Williams & Mark Connor.

What we’ve liked this month
Two Instagram accounts showing Manchester in different ways, both highlighting what makes it such an appealing city. @flossietakesphotos and @thisisourmancheter are well worth a follow.