Greater Manchester Providers Launch Exclusive Apprenticeship Support

The Greater Manchester Apprenticeship Company launches online portal to get students on the career ladder

Today sees the launch of a new online apprenticeships portal from the Greater Manchester Apprenticeship Company (GMAC), designed to support and inspire students on their journey to an apprenticeship.

The GMAC partnership, which launched in June, is a new collaboration between nine colleges from the Greater Manchester Colleges Group (GMCG), and leading training provider The Skills Company. Funded through the Greater Manchester Apprenticeship Hub City Deal programme on behalf of the GMCA, the partnership aims to contribute to GM’s Apprenticeship Strategy to drive the quality and volume of apprenticeship opportunities through the provision of excellent support and advice to young people.

As the new academic year kicks off, the ‘THIS IS ME’ portal will be exclusively available to young people studying with GMAC providers across Greater Manchester, providing them with 24-7 support and access to a range of resources including help building a CV, video-based mock interviews, tips from employers and a hub of live vacancies in the region. The tool will integrate with the partners’ own virtual learning environments providing seamless support for students planning their next steps.

Fresh off the back of GCSE results day, THIS IS ME will support learners across the partnership as they consider their next stage of training or education, showcasing apprenticeships as a great way to get ahead in the career stakes.

Marie Gilluley, Principal at Bolton College and spokesperson for GMCG said: “The number of apprenticeship opportunities in Greater Manchester is growing everyday, making it more important than ever that our students are equipped to make the most of what’s out there. We’re delighted to be able to offer our students the tailored support and guidance to kick-start their career. We want our students to take advantage of this unique resource and really explore where apprenticeships can take them.”

Theresa Grant, Head of Skills & Employment for Greater Manchester and Chief Executive at Trafford Council, was at Trafford College to officially launch THIS IS ME. Speaking at the event, she said: “An apprenticeship is a great opportunity to find your way into the workplace. By taking on an apprenticeship you can learn vital skills, qualifications and earn a wage. It is a gateway to setting yourself up for a successful and satisfying career and I am pleased to see this unique collaboration of Greater Manchester providers working together to launch the superb “THIS IS ME” site for students.”

THIS IS ME is exclusively for young people studying with the GMAC partner providers. For more information about the portal and GMAC contact the project lead Helen Hawxwell ([email protected]) or find @ThisismeGMAC on Twitter & Instagram.

Pictured (L-R): Steve Jones (Director of Learning for STEM at Trafford College, Katrina O’Brien (former apprentice), Ashley Yates (apprentice) & Theresa Grant (Head of Skills & Employment for Greater Manchester and Chief Executive of Trafford Council)