The Manchester Series: Q&A with Chris Harland, Head of the North West

Following the launch of AAB’s new Manchester office, we sat down with Chris Harland, Head of the North West, to discuss the region’s opportunities, AAB’s growth ambitions and how the firm is supporting businesses across Manchester and the wider North West.

To start, can you tell us about your career so far and what brought you to AAB?

I started my career in Liverpool, where I trained and qualified in 1993. It was after this when I first ventured over to Manchester, joining a firm in the city.

In 2014, I joined Barlow Andrews as a partner. Being based in Bolton, this expanded my reach across the North West, supporting businesses all across the region. It was also at Barlow Andrews that I first came across AAB. We were part of a network of other firms across the UK called Accelerate Network, which AAB is part of.

When the opportunity arose to join AAB, it just felt like the right fit. It was their ambition that really attracted me the most. The firm has a strong track record of growth, significant investment in people and technology, and a genuine commitment to helping clients achieve their goals. Since becoming part of AAB in 2024, this has enabled us to bring a significantly broader range of expertise and specialist services to businesses across the North West.

How do you support businesses across the North West?

The beauty of being part of AAB is that we’re able to support SMEs all the way through to mid-market and PE-backed enterprises. This means we can grow with businesses, ensuring they’re fully supported as they scale.

The size of AAB also means we can provide a one-stop shop for clients, simplifying their growth journey with one central place to get their advice and support from. This includes support across audit, tax, deals, people advisory, wealth and office of the CFO, giving them access to specialist at every stage of their growth journey.

This means that, whether a business is considering expansion, navigating succession planning, securing investment or exploring an acquisition, we can bring together the right expertise from across the firm.

What has been one of the most rewarding moments in your career?

One of the most rewarding aspects of my career has always been helping people develop and success. Seeing colleagues progress into leadership positions and supporting clients as they grow their businesses continues to be incredibly fulfilling. Growing and shaping Barlow Andrews and ultimately becoming part of AAB in that journey is also a top highlight for me.

Why do you think Manchester is such an exciting place to do business at the moment?

In the time I’ve worked in Manchester I’ve seen it change out of all recognition. Its ability to attract and retain talent has grown massively, and we’ve seen the professional services sector boom here, driven by the amount of fast-growing businesses that need support.

The moment I really realised how much had changed came when I was supporting with the sale of a business which operates construction hoists (the lifts used when building skyscrapers). At that point, there were reportedly more cranes in Manchester than London, which really gave me a sense of perspective.

However, while Manchester has become a key economic engine for the UK, its success is undoubtedly part of a much wider North West growth story. Across the region we’re seeing ambitious businesses investing, innovating and looking for advisers who can support increasingly complex growth plans.

What are you hoping to achieve in the next few years?

We’ve got ambitious plans to grow our new Manchester office to 200 people. We already have the scale of AAB, with the backing of Goldman Sachs Alternatives, to invest heavily in our operations here.

However, our success in Manchester isn’t just about the number of people we employ, it’s also about becoming the trusted adviser of choice for ambitious businesses across Manchester and the wider North West.

Expanding into the city was a strategic move for us, recognising the vast amount of potential businesses hold here. That’s why we want to build long-term relationships, support regional growth and ensure clients have access to the expertise they need as their businesses evolve.

What’s one of your favourite memories in Manchester?

My wife is a Mancunian and we got married just south of the city, so that’s undoubtedly a standout for me.

Otherwise, as a lifelong Everton fan, watching the team play at iconic stadiums like Old Trafford and the Etihad has to be up there, especially when we win. My wife is a United fan, so this doesn’t always go down well in our house.

Finally, when you’re not working, where’s one place in Manchester you’re likely to be found?

The restaurants in Manchester are a real highlight. Dishoom is a personal favourite, I always make sure to order the Black Daal. Otherwise, Hawksmoor is always a safe bet. My sons are big steak fans so it’s become a family favourite.