Major employers give backing to Greater Manchester’s plans for technical education

Over sixty businesses in Greater Manchester, including major local and global employers, have come forward to share their support for the city-region’s plans for technical education, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham revealed at a breakfast event on 26th September.

Representing sectors from tech, professional services, culture, construction, manufacturing and engineering, as well as the city-region’s five universities, these businesses have agreed to form a new network of employers that will drive forward the city-region’s plans for technical education.

The likes of Microsoft, Autotrader, Capital and Centric, the BBC and Sodexo have all given their backing to proposals for a new Greater Manchester Baccalaureate (MBacc) qualification that will steer young people into technical qualifications at post-16 level and put them on an equal footing with the university route into future careers. Greater Manchester’s Apprenticeship and Careers Service (GMACS) will also be enhanced to increase access to technical education qualifications as a counterpart to the UCAS university admissions service.

Seven business leaders representing the city-region’s key business sectors will be appointed to form an Employer Integration Board, who will use their insights to develop more technical education opportunities for young people in Greater Manchester, and galvanise other employers to commit to action. Leaders will also work closely with Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and the Greater Manchester Chambers of Commerce. The sectors are:

• Manufacturing and engineering
• Financial and Professional
• Digital and Technology
• Creative, Culture and Sport
• Construction and Green Economy
• Education and Early Years
• Health and Social Care

Businesses not appointed to the Employer Integration Board will form an Employer Supporters Action Network, which will help the Board to create forward change through information sharing as well as identifying challenges and opportunities.

The MBacc will launch in September 2024 with a pilot programme. As well as garnering backing from businesses, a public consultation by GMCA found that 90 percent of the respondents strongly back the proposals, while independent research by BMG Research found three in five parents of school age children in the city-region are supportive of the plans.

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said:

“I’m delighted that so many big name employers – all with a base in Greater Manchester – have stepped up to lead from the front in championing the value of technical education, get involved in developing the curriculum, and crucially, help provide training opportunities and jobs.

“I’m also pleased to see employers from a diverse range of sectors get involved from health, education, manufacturing to banking. It shows just how much opportunity is out there and the fact that so many parents and carers and the public in general back our proposals is heartening.

“Today is a clear signal to young people and their parents and carers in our city-region that we will support you with a clear pathway if university education is not for you.”

Cllr Eamonn O’Brien, GMCA Portfolio Lead for Education, Work and Skills added:

“I’m excited about the significant progress already made to make Greater Manchester a technical education city-region with so many employers coming on board and all of them leaders in their field. It will inspire confidence in young people unsure about their future that there are routes for them into employment and we are here ready to support them.

“The sheer variety of employers who have signed up already shows how much support is out there for our ambition, and I also want to see our small and medium-sized businesses get involved too to ensure young people have the widest possible choice available.”