Greater Manchester businesses looking to upskill members of their workforce with logistics or project management training are set to benefit from the city-region’s Skills for Growth programme.

Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) has awarded contracts worth £1.5 million to Growth Company and Seetec Outsource as part of its three-year Skills for Growth programme funded through the European Social Fund.

Seetec Outsource will support a minimum of 1,200 people working in the logistics industry to navigate a post-Brexit world as businesses face challenges around new import and export rules. They will also focus on upskilling in the planning, control and scheduling aspects of the sector.

Following feedback from employers in Greater Manchester identifying a need to upskill people across a number of industries with project management skills, Growth Company will work with Back2Work to deliver ‘Project Management for All’. The course will be aimed at those who have elements of project management within their jobs, but are not in dedicated project management roles. The training will support a minimum of 750 people across all industries.

Cllr Eamonn O’Brien, leader of Bury Council and Greater Manchester’s lead for Education, Work, Skills, Apprenticeships and Digital said:

“There is a pressing need for more highly-skilled people than ever before who are trained effectively to grow our economy and raise productivity.

“In Greater Manchester we have a growing, dynamic economy and we have ambitions for a world class integrated skills system to match it.

“We’ve been making some real progress over recent years and the Skills for Growth programme is just one fantastic example of how we work collaboratively to provide a relevant offer to our businesses, which is tailored and responsive to their needs.”

Training on both programmes will be provided using a flexible approach, and accredited at Level 3 or equivalent, and it will offer participants further opportunities to access higher level training or workplace progression.

Jen Leggat, Business Development Project Manager at Growth Company said:

“Since the shift to home and hybrid working throughout the pandemic, project working and collaboration has been difficult in some organisations. We recognise the importance of developing key knowledge and skills in management and leadership and although employers are now seeing the value in project management techniques and processes, they are struggling to find people who already possess these skills.

“Therefore, we have developed a suite of training using real-time employer feedback that will not only support businesses in Greater Manchester to enhance their workforce but will also inspire individuals in the region to develop new professional skills.”

Lloyd DeVal, Director of Sector Skills at Seetec Outsource, added:

“Serving as a foundation sector of Greater Manchester’s economy, Logistics and Infrastructure will play a critical role in supporting social and economic growth within the region.

“The industry is currently going through a period of rapid and unprecedented transformation. Changing customer requirements, emerging technologies and the digital transformation of the business environment mean that upskilling workers will be key to ensuring businesses can keep up with the rapid pace of change.

“We look forward to working closely with employers in the region to co-develop skills provision that builds workforce capability and increases productivity. As an award-winning provider with significant expertise and experience within the logistics sector, Seetec Outsource is well placed to deliver the skilled workforce that Greater Manchester needs to meet current and future challenges and embrace opportunities for growth.” 

The wider Skills for Growth programme launched as part of the city-region’s devolved powers over the post-19 skills system. Since its launch, over 2000 individuals have so far enrolled onto fully-funded training, on top of support offered to SME business leaders via the Skills for Growth – SME Support arm of the programme.