Manchester unites on skills

SIX organisations in Greater Manchester, spanning the private,  public, voluntary and education sectors, have signed a deal to collaborate on skills and bid for funding.

A formal memorandum of understanding to create a new body called GM Futures was signed on Wednesday by: Greater Manchester Centre for Voluntary Organisation, Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, GM Colleges Group, GM Learning Provider Network, The Manchester College and The Manchester Growth Company.

CLive Memmott, chief executive of the chamber said: “Delivering an effective employer-focused skills offer to Greater Manchester businesses is hugely important to the future success of our city region.  This strategic partnership gives us real strength and depth to bid for funds to produce top class skills provision for Greater Manchester.

“From the Chamber’s perspective we see this as building on the excellent work we have delivered over the last few years on our Employer Ownership of Skills programme. The partnership provides a strong framework for collaboration to ensure a clear and progressive skills offer for individuals, employers and communities across Greater Manchester.”

The creation of GM Futures aims to “create a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts”. It will bid for funding from the  European Social Fund (ESF 2014-20)  and lead to a “more coherent and effective integrated employment and skills system in Greater Manchester which supports individuals, employers and communities”.