A shared approach to developing the skills, education and training needed to support the city region’s future workforce has been set out today
The approach has been put together by by further and higher education institutions, Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), Greater Manchester Civic Universities Board, GMColleges and Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce.
Pathways for Growth and Prosperity: A Blueprint for Skills Development in Greater Manchesteroutlines how partners can work more closely together to better understand local skills needs, create clearer routes into employment, and ensure learners can access the opportunities that are right for them. It has been developed alongside Greater Manchester’s Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) and coincides with the United Nation’s World Youth Skills Day.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Nic Beech said: “The University of Salford are delighted to have partnered with our colleagues in Further Education, Higher Education, the GMCA and the Chamber of Commerce to deliver a blueprint for skills development. It is a step towards delivering a more joined-up skills system with learners at the centre, connecting education and employers to develop the skills pathway for our local economy. The recommendations in the report speak to the aims and ethos of the Greater Manchester Institute of Technology, and the collaborations behind it. We will continue to work with our colleagues on this agenda, building a sustainable skills-system for the people of Greater Manchester.”
Drawing on the first combined analysis of further education, higher education and employer demand data across Greater Manchester, the report provides a detailed, evidence-based picture of current and future skills needs across the city-region.
Andy Dainty, Manchester Metropolitan University’s Vice Provost and Pro-Vice Chancellor Education, who co-led the project, said: “Our new report sets out practical recommendations to help ensure that post-16 education and training provision is shaped by local demand, supports priority sectors and responds to the changing needs of employers and learners.
“At its heart, this work is about increasing options at Level 4 and 5 (advanced vocational qualifications that build specialist skills), strengthening pathways into skilled employment, and ensuring people can access learning that is right for them.
“Grounded in evidence and developed alongside the Local Skills Improvement Plan, this collaboration brings post-16 providers together around a common goal – to deliver skills provision that is rooted in local need, responsive to employer demand, and focused on improving outcomes for learners and communities.”
Julia Heap, Chair of GMColleges, said: “This report is an important step towards creating a more joined-up skills system for Greater Manchester. By bringing together partners from across education, employers and the public sector, it sets out a shared approach to developing the skills our economy needs.
“GMColleges is proud to have supported this work, which recognises that collaboration is key to creating clearer pathways into skilled employment and supporting inclusive growth across the city region.”
