Puma relocates UK headquarters to Manchester’s Circle Square

Puma is moving its UK headquarters from London to Manchester and has signed a lease for 20,000 square feet at No.3 Circle Square.

The new office is part of an £87m development by Bruntwood SciTech, a partnership between Bruntwood, Legal & General and Greater Manchester Pension Fund.

The building, which offers 267,000 square feet over 15 floors, is on the Oxford Road Corridor, known as the city’s knowledge quarter.

Construction is finishing and the space will open this summer.

Puma’s Manchester office will house sales, marketing, merchandising, finance, people and operations, and direct to consumer teams.

The move follows Puma’s plans to open a European flagship store on Oxford Street, London, in autumn 2025.

Puma will be located near Manchester’s universities and other businesses based at Circle Square, with access to local talent.

The brand is already linked to Manchester Metropolitan University through its advisory board at the Manchester Fashion Institute.

Puma will also be able to use Bruntwood SciTech’s innovation growth team and employee community programme.

Lucynda Davies, UK managing director at Puma, said: “The move to Circle Square and state-of-the-art facilities on offer forms a key part of our strategy for providing PUMA’s employees with a first class working environment with top facilities and amenities.

“All whilst being at the centre of a community which offers leading technology, fashion, AI and innovation.

“Being surrounded by such a strong line up of industry was an important factor, and to find somewhere in the heart of Manchester’s thriving tech community is exactly what we hoped for.”

Davies added: “Being based at Circle Square will also open up a host of opportunities to tap into the city’s creative talent pool and strengthen our existing links with academic partners like Manchester Metropolitan University – of which we get the added benefit of Bruntwood SciTech being a partner.

“We’ve already experienced many of the gains that a thriving city like Manchester affords, and in December 2024, we teamed up with Manchester City football club to launch an innovative AI platform for fans to flex their design skills for the club’s official Third kit.

“Now, through our new UK HQ, we look forward to further integrating ourselves in the city’s innovative community.”

Josh Whiteley, commercial director at Bruntwood SciTech, said: “PUMA joining Circle Square underlines our ambition to build a thriving community of technology, digital and creative leaders and promote knowledge-sharing and innovation.

“The brand’s own ethos to innovate and grow marries perfectly with our vision, and its arrival highlights the vibrant and collaborative destination that we have built at Circle Square.

“At Circle Square we offer our customers – whether they’re large global companies or flourishing start-ups – access to new connections, introductions to like-minded businesses, and talent networks while providing state-of-the-art workspaces.”

Whiteley added: “Manchester has a reputation as an economic powerhouse that draws in disruptive, pioneering brands and skilled professionals.

“It also has the largest concentration of fashion students and undergraduates in the UK outside London, and a rich history in innovation and textiles as the birthplace of the industrial revolution.

“Being the UK home of a global brand like PUMA will be a powerful two-way partnership – helping support regional growth, as well as offering them access to workspace, talent and companies that will shape the future of innovation.”

Bev Craig, leader of Manchester City Council, said: “When a major global brand chooses to have its UK headquarters in Manchester it is a significant announcement for our city which illustrates our international impact.

“Manchester is a city of innovation and a city of style and we’re pleased that PUMA have decided our existing ecosystem – the talent pool available and links with like-minded businesses and institutions – make it the perfect fit for them.

“We look forward to welcoming PUMA to Circle Square and seeing what interesting new opportunities their presence here will open up both for them and for Manchester people.”