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Locations

Manchester and the North West

Our secure site in Albert Square in the heart of the city of Manchester and North West.

The external of the building reads 'HERON HOUSE'

Located on Albert Square in the heart of the city of Manchester, Heron House is home to GCHQ’s newest hi-tech offices. Since it opened in 2019, Heron House has become a hub for innovation and technical expertise, contributing to an already thriving technology scene across the North-West.

At Heron House we use cutting-edge technology and technical ingenuity to identify and disrupt threats to the UK, while the central Manchester location allows us to draw on the wealth of talent across the region - from both the companies and people in one of the most vibrant and diverse cities in the UK.

In July 2026, GCHQ welcomed Prime Minister Andy Burnham and his team to Heron House, as it became the location of the new No.10 North.

The offices come complete with public space designed for welcoming local technology start-ups and innovators to collaborate with us on some of the biggest tech challenges of the day.

The interior of GCHQ's Heron House office with the Manchester 'worker bee' icon clear on the wall

We run a number of partnership programmes from Heron House, including mentoring and supporting start-ups, working with academics on difficult national security challenges and working with local schools to encourage more young people to consider careers in STEM subjects.

To explore our current vacancies and to register your interest in upcoming roles in Manchester and the North-West, visit the Careers section of the website.