With approximately one in three young people not interested in going to University, Greater Manchester is striving to become a leading force in education, with a focus on T Levels, Apprenticeships, and alternative pathways.

Greater Manchester boasts prestigious universities that are globally recognized for their academic excellence. The region has established itself as a hub for educational brilliance, with one of its universities being the top preferred choice of top graduate employers. However, it is high time we focus our attention on alternative educational pathways including apprenticeships. Greater Manchester aspires to become the ultimate destination and leader for apprenticeships, aiming to produce the most highly sought-after skilled apprentices.

In his role as the elected mayor, Andy Burnham has advocated for increased authority over post technical education. He has introduced the concept of a “Greater Manchester Baccalaureate” (MBacc) to encourage young people in the region to pursue technical education courses. The aim is for MBacc to guide students towards subjects that will enhance their prospects of securing employment in the thriving local economy, such as Engineering, Computer Science, and creative disciplines.

In response to this we have placed a large focus on Apprenticeships, following February's National Apprenticeship Week, with the theme ‘Skills for Life’, reflecting on how apprenticeships can help individuals to develop the skills and knowledge required for a rewarding career, and employers to develop a workforce with future ready skills.

This year is the 17th annual celebration of apprenticeships week; apprenticeship week brings together a wide range of people to recognize and highlight the importance of apprenticeships in our society.

Our event will bring together a panel of employers and apprentices and will serve as a platform for sharing success stories, showcasing the achievements of apprenticeships, and promoting the benefits of this valuable form of training. Throughout this event, there will be panel discussions and opportunities for employers to network and learn more about apprenticeships and how employing new apprentices can enhance their company. It is time to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of apprentices and the impact they have on shaping our economy. Joining our panel so far will be:

Nick Rose, Sharp UK
Duncan Craig OBE, We Are Survivors
Emma Nolan, OneFile
Lisa Wood, Naimuri

Established for over thirty years, GC Education and Skills offer a huge range of apprenticeships, traineeships and courses for people throughout their working lives. Apprenticeships delivered by GC Education and Skills are designed with progression in mind, to equip learners with the knowledge and skills to advance in their careers and further studies.

Empowering You, Our Future Workforce