Stockport Council and Business Growth Hub launch skills initiative for the Health & Social Care Sector

The Adult Social Care Commissioning Team at Stockport Council has joined forces with Greater Manchester Business Growth Hub to launch a new initiative to develop skills within the borough’s care settings.

The Stockport Skills Development for Care Workers initiative is designed to strengthen the local care workforce by identifying current and emerging training needs, including those of sponsored workers. By engaging directly with providers and frontline staff, the partnership is identifying training opportunities for the sector and gathering valuable insights into the challenges, aspirations, and skills gaps that shape day-to-day practice in this vital area of public service. 

Janine Richardson, Programme Manager – Workforce Development, at the Business Growth Hub explained:

“It’s vital that development opportunities are aligned with the evolving demands of the sector. And who knows those demands better than the people doing the job day-in-day-out in Stockport. With care workers help, we want to build the foundation of future-focused training that supports career progression, enhances service quality, and helps attract and retain talent.”

The findings will play a central role in informing the design and delivery of the borough’s One Stockport Health & Social Care Career Academy. The academy launched in December 2025 and focusses on building a sustainable, skilled and community-focused care workforce.

Cllr Helen Foster-Grime, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care said:

“This is an important step in strengthening how we support the health and wellbeing of our residents, which is a priority for us in Stockport. By working closely with partners and focusing on early, preventative support, we are helping people to live healthier, more independent lives in the borough while making sure services are accessible, joined-up and responsive to local needs.”