Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce (GMCC) today announces a new partnership with Employment Hero, a global HR, payroll, and benefits platform. This collaboration is fuelled by a shared mission: to provide small businesses in the Greater Manchester region with the tools and support they need to scale.
As the largest accredited Chamber of Commerce in the UK, GMCC champions over 4,200 members across the region. Through this strategic alliance with Employment Hero, which currently serves 20,000 SMEs and 200,000 employees in the UK, they aim to diversify their support offering and provide essential resources, such as payroll management, HR and recruitment, to strengthen the business ecosystem.
This collaboration signals a commitment to driving economic growth and showcasing the innovation and resilience of Greater Manchester.
A recent report from GMCC highlighted a significant demand for customer-facing roles, such as in care and hospitality. Despite this demand, a staggering 65% of employers said that these positions are ‘hard to fill’. This challenge is particularly pronounced in the care sector, which advertised almost 15,000 vacancies last year alone.
The report also pays homage to the North’s historical role as an industrial powerhouse, with over 100,000 manufacturing jobs available in the Greater Manchester area.
These industries remain vital to our economy and require substantial support to thrive. Employment Hero’s platform is particularly beneficial for SMEs grappling with complex pay runs or shift scheduling. Their talent matching tool, SmartMatch, harnesses the power of AI to match employers with pre-vetted candidates for every role within the business to ensure optimal staffing levels. By consolidating recruitment, onboarding, payroll, and HR processes into a centralised system, SMEs can significantly enhance team efficiency.
Reet Sercombe, Head of Membership & Commercial at Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, said:
“At the heart of our mission is empowering small businesses across the North, ensuring they have the resources and connections essential for success. Regardless of their industry or scale, every company grapples with HR challenges. Teaming up with Employment Hero bolsters our support system, providing SMEs in Greater Manchester with a robust platform to nurture and expand their teams.”
Kevin Fitzgerald, UK MD at Employment Hero, said:
“No small business owner wants to spend their time completing admin tasks, but the reality is that dealing with HR issues like recruitment and payroll takes up a lot of time and headspace. SMEs are the real heroes of our economy, making up 99% of all businesses, giving jobs to 70% of the world’s workers, and contributing nearly half of global GDP. Imagine if they could put all their energy into growing their businesses instead of completing paperwork. I’m thrilled to partner with GMCC and believe that together we can boost the local economy and show the world what Greater Manchester has to offer.”
Employment Hero, recognised as one of the world’s fastest-growing SaaS companies, is dedicated to simplifying the lives of SMEs by supporting them at every stage of the employment lifecycle. Their AI-powered platform streamlines HR processes, liberating business owners from administrative burdens so that they can focus on growth.
GMCC members will gain exclusive discounted access to the Employment Hero’s suite of products. SMEs across the region are already signing up and reaping the benefits of the platform. For more information, visit the landing page.
