The original crest was gleaned from the logo of the Manchester City Coat of Arms. All that remains of the original crest is the ship in full sail.

The golden bends in red are derived from the arms of the Lords of Manchester, who ruled the city prior to 1301. The chief shows a ship in full sail, a symbol of trade and enterprise. The crest shows a globe covered with bees, representing the world, to all parts of which the goods of the city are exported. The bees are a symbol of activity. The supporters, an antelope and a lion, are derived from the arms of King Henry IV, Duke of Lancaster.

The motto means “By council and work,” and is derived from a phrase in Ecclesiasticus 37:16 : “Let reason be the beginning of every work and let counsel go before every action.”