Greater Manchester drives forward its ambition to boost skills and employment

The Greater Manchester Skills and Employment Partnership has officially launched. It is an initiative led by New Economy, which aims to boost the regions employment and skill levels.

The partnership is located within New Economy, the agency charged with creating economic growth and prosperity across Greater Manchester. It brings together a range of stakeholders working to a common agenda; driving the best possible skills and employment outcomes for the region’s people and businesses.

At the heart of the partnership is an intelligence-driven approach; providing expert analysis to identify where demand is not currently being met and to predict future market trends. It will ensure that providers are able to fully understand and address market demand. It supports the provision of demand-led education, training and employment across the conurbation.

To lead the partnership, a director of employment and skills has been appointed to work on behalf of New Economy, delivering objectives in-line with the Greater Manchester Strategy.

David Brennan – whose experience spans over fifteen years in recruitment, including previous roles as director of employment and skills for Liverpool City Council and as regional director of skills for LSC North West – will join New Economy from Monday, 21st November.

The new position will involve David working on behalf of the Greater Manchester Skills and Employment Partnership to liaise closely with a number of regional bodies which include the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and Greater Manchester’s Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP). David and his team will ensure the development, coordination and implementation of effective skills and employment policies across Greater Manchester.

Cllr John Merry, chair of Greater Manchester’s Skills and Employment Partnership, said: “We’re delighted to formally announce the partnership which for the first time brings together all the key players and allows us to drive forward our collective ambitions for skills and employment. We’ve set out a bold strategy to deliver on behalf of Greater Manchester and we’re delighted that David will be joining us to lead this.

“Given the disappointing unemployment figures highlighted earlier this month, coupled with the already low skills base which Manchester suffers in comparison to peer cities in the UK and Europe, we know that David’s role – and that of the partnership – will be no small task. However, I’m confident that David’s extensive experience in this field, supporting by a strong and co-ordinated team of partners, will enable us to achieve success that is vital to Manchester’s resilience as it faces ongoing challenges.”

New Economy, whose role is to create growth and prosperity for Greater Manchester, leads on a number of employment and skills priorities in the Greater Manchester Strategy.