The GM Skills Awards 2025 took place on Thursday 3rd July to celebrate excellence in the Further Education and Skills sector across Greater Manchester.
The awards are organised in partnership by the Greater Manchester Learning Providers Network (GMLPN) and Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce (GMCC) and bring together industry leaders, educators, employers, learners and apprentices to celebrate outstanding achievements and contributions to the FE and Skills Sector. The evening at The Manchester Monastery also raised £565 for the Greater Manchester Youth Network, the awards’ chosen charity.
Following the awards, the GMLPN commented:
“We had an amazing night last night at the GM Skills Awards 2025, coming together to celebrate all the incredible finalists, highly commended entries, and of course, the well-deserved winners and their outstanding achievements.
“We were proud to have Bud as our headline sponsor, and we’re truly grateful to all the other sponsors who joined us to present the awards and make the evening so special.
“A huge thank you as well to Baasit Siddiqui for hosting. He was fantastic and brought such energy and warmth to the event.“
Stockport was represented at the awards by Pure Innovations. The charity’s Supported Internships team took home the Team of the Year Award for its work supporting young people with learning disabilities, neurodiversities and mental health related problems to make the transition into paid employment. Other award winners were:
Apprentice of the year (Level 2-3) – Sponsored by Trafford & Stockport College Group
- Winner: Gerrard Ashcroft, IACS Training and Education, Hopwood Hall College
- Highly Commended: Aston Aldred, Electrium Sales Ltd, Wigan and Leigh College
Apprentice of the year (Level 4-7) – Sponsored by City & Guilds
- Winner: Niamh Clarke, PwC, Kaplan
- Highly Commended: Grace Ormesher-Southall, SellafieldLtd, Wigan and Leigh College
16-19 Learner of the year – Sponsored by Gateway Qualifications
- Winner: Kelsie Fitzsimmons, Wigan and Leigh College
- Highly Commended: Lewis Morrison, Hopwood Hall College
Adult Learner of the year – Sponsored by NCFE
- Winner: Sean Doyle, Peter Taylor Construction, Construction Skills People
- Highly Commended: Michelle Crowther, Mantra Learning
Shining Star of the year – Sponsored by NQual
- Winner: Maksym Kokhan, The Casey Group, Hopwood Hall College
- Highly Commended: Leon Williams, PVS Group Ltd, The Growth Company
Unsung Hero of the year – Sponsored by Mesma
- Winner: Dave Bradbury, Elevated Knowledge
- Highly Commended: Catherine Perkins, The Manchester College
Team of the year – Sponsored by the awards’ headline sponsor, Bud
- Winner: Supported Internship Team at Pure Innovations
- Highly Commended: 3t Training Services
SME of the year – Sponsored by Rochdale Training
- Winner: IACS Training and Education
- Highly Commended: R&B Switchgear
Large Employer of the year – Sponsored by Pearson
- Winner: LWC Drinks
- Highly Commended: Hyde Group
Outstanding Innovation of the year – Sponsored by Coyne Recruitment
- Winner: Engaging Rochdale & Rochdale Youth Works, Positive Steps & Rochdale Borough Council
- Highly Commended: Funding Futures
Community Initiative of the year – Sponsored by Manchester City Council | UNESCO
- Winner: RISE UP
- Highly Commended: Re-Engage Programme, Wigan and Leigh College
Partnership Project of the year – Sponsored by The Growth Company
- Winner: Manchester, A UNESCO City of Lifelong Learning, Manchester City Council & Partners
- Highly Commended: Health Education Initiative, Bolton College
Outstanding Contribution to FE & Skills 2025
- Mark Currie, Chair of Greater Manchester Learning Provider Network
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