I’m pleased to announce two new contract wins for GC, worth a combined £16.9m. Together they represent a fantastic achievement for the Group. We have secured a new programme with the Skills for Growth – SME Skills Support package, worth £7m. This will enable us to help 4,000 SMEs across Greater Manchester reskill their workforces, supporting the city region’s long-term economic recovery in response to Covid-19.
Funded by the European Social Fund and commissioned by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), the Skills for Growth – SME Skills Support package will be delivered in partnership with the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce (GMCC) over the next three years and will commence on 26 October 2020.
The scheme will support businesses that need to better understand and develop their employee skill sets and business models to ensure they are future-proofed and in a strong position to grow.
Strategically, this represents a great opportunity for us to build on existing programmes and to enable greater integration of our core activity around business support and as a skills intermediary.
We have also been successful in our bid to the Ministry of Justice for the delivery of European Social Fund Co-Funding Organisation Activity Hubs in Yorkshire from 1 March 2021 for 32 months, worth £9.9m.
Through this voluntary service we will be providing a safe and supportive environment for offenders to support their rehabilitation and resettlement. Through a range of tailored support, including one to one advice, guidance and group work we will enable individuals to move closer to the labour market, employment training and education and equip them with the necessary skills needed to desist from offending and contribute to their local communities.
It will be delivered from three hubs in Yorkshire (Sheffield, Leeds, and York). We will directly deliver the hub in Sheffield and will be working with two delivery partners for the other hubs – in Leeds we will be working with Inspire North; and in York we will be working with York City Council/York Learning.
Both contract wins demonstrate our strong reputation in the market for partnership working and collaboration; and both are key for GC in continuing to strengthen and profile our strategic offer in Greater Manchester and Yorkshire.
While we continue to navigate through the challenges presented by Covid-19, not least those to our immediate-term financial outlook, strategic wins like these will be crucial in enabling us to emerge from a position of strength over the longer-term.
I would like to thank all those colleagues from Business Development, Business Growth Hub, GC Education & Skills, GC Employment and Corporate Services teams for pulling these successful bids together and enabling us to look ahead with purpose.