Our Projects
The Greater Manchester Learning Provider Network are currently involved in the delivery of a range of different projects. The projects work to bring benefit to our members and the Greater Manchester skills system.
We are currently delivering the following projects, click on them to find out more.
ASK (Apprenticeship Support and Knowledge)
Funded by Education Skills and Funding Agency
GMLPN Mental Health Project
In partnership with the Association of Colleges
Supporting Autistic Individuals into Apprenticeships
In partnership with NCFE
Concluded Projects
We have successfully delivered a number of projects, which have now concluded. You can find more information below:
Taking Teaching Further
Phase One –
GMLPN and GMCC recruited 35 Further Education Providers (FEPs) and 26 employers info four sector-based Industry Boards – Engineering & Manufacturing, Education & Childcare, Construction and Digital. The partnership facilitated the four Industry Boards for the purpose of brokering exchanges between employers and FEPs as well as to understand some of the challenges encountered by each sector in GM.
Phase Two –
The GMLPN in partnership with the GM Chamber of Commerce have developed two toolkits. The Curriculum Co-Design Toolkit supports employers and Further Education Providers (FEPs) to collaboratively review, design, deliver, assess and evaluate curricula to develop industry relevant skills for learners enabling them to be work ready when transitioning from Further Education (FE) to employment.
The partnership also developed the Greater Manchester Labour Market Information Electronic Toolkit, which provides an essential teaching resource to help address gender, pay, ethnicity and social mobility gaps, as well as provide up to date information on skills shortages and employment opportunities in Greater Manchester.
GM Apprenticeship Ambassador Programme
The Apprenticeship Ambassador programme is an Apprenticeship information service for schools in Greater Manchester which utilised apprentices’ who have volunteered to share their first-hand knowledge and experience of Apprenticeships as a route into a successful career.
The premise of the programme was that the best people to promote Apprenticeships to young people in Greater Manchester schools are young people undertaking an Apprenticeship. The project was uniquely positioned to provide an insight into Apprenticeships and Traineeships by mobilising real apprentices to share their personal experiences with students who are typically only a few years younger than the ambassadors. Other CEIAG projects provide high quality information, advice and guidance but only the Apprenticeship Ambassador programme promotes the pathway using those who have chosen that route.
#SEEDIFFERENT - The GM Apprenticeship Hub
The Greater Manchester Apprenticeship Hub brought together partners from across the city region, working together to increase the scale, breadth and quality of Apprenticeships in Greater Manchester.
The Apprenticeship Hub website was used as a hub of information for all things Apprenticeships across Greater Manchester. The aim was to not reprouduce materials and information that is already out there, but to collate it in one place.
We utilised 4 main social media channels: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. GMLPN used these to make information easily accessible to all the stakeholder audiences.
ETF Professional Exchange
The Professional Exchange Project was funded by the Education and Training Foundation. The project brought FE Staff including senior managers and practitoners together to work togetherm, learn from each other, discuss challenged and share best practices. GMLPN facilitated meetings across 3 years for the following groups:
- Assessment to Training
- Delivering Digital Standards
- English, Maths and Digital
- Equality and Diversity
- Improving Quality
- New and Growing Training Providers
- Recruiting Learners
- Safeguarding
- Work Placements
The project engaged with 604 direct participants through the meetings from 185 organisations, with a further 435 indirect participants engaged through the learning being passed on by colleagues involved in the meetings. Key outputs of the projects included a number of resource banks created by the sharing of best practice and the development of key action lists/check lists that providers come implement in their own organisations.
GM Search and Apply
The aim for the project was to increase participation in post-16 education and training and to raise the profile of Apprenticeships amongst young people in Greater Manchester.
This intiative:
- Helped providers to list their course information on UCAS progress System
- Encouraged more providers to engage with the UCA Progress System
- Increased the numbers of young people searching and applying for a range of opportunities
- Actively promoted and the supported the use of the system
- Developed a process to support young people who express an interest in Apprenticeships and Traineeships
Click here to read the final report
Traineeships Toolkit
The aim of the Toolkit was to increase the number of Traineeship starts in Greater Manchester and as a consquence increase the number of trainees progressing into Apprenticeships.
Furthermore, by improving the quality of Traineeship delivery a higher proportion of trainees will stay and complete the programme and a high proportion will be ready to progress to an Apprenticeship.
The achieve these aims the project had four key elements
- A series of seven masterclasses were delivered, which supported Traineeship providers to enhance their deliver with the aim of increasing their progression rates to Apprenticeships, The masterclsses covered topics which intended to support recuitment, delivery, employer engagement and work placements.
- Information sessions were delivered to referral agencies including JCP, Career Connect and Positive Steps. The sessions were aimed at increasing the number of referrals by raising awareness of Traineeships amongst advisors an signposting them to resources on the Traineeship Toolkit.
- We maintained and updated the Traineeship Toolkit to ensure that it remained accurate and relevant for providers and referral agencies.
- We also produced 7 Video Case Studies deaturing apprentices who had progressed to their current role from a Traineeship. These were developed as a resource to inform, inspire and motivate other young people to consider a Traineeship as a pathway into an Apprenticeship.
Demonstrating IMPACT Programme
The Demonstrating IMPACT Programme was engineered to support learning providers to meet the needs of business and demonstrate to employers that the learning solutions they offer have a real value and will provide a return on investment regarding skills.
The Programme set out to support learning providers in Greater Manchester to be more responsive to employers and able to demonstrate Return on Investment to employers.
The Programme was tasked with engaging with 35 Training Providers.
The Programme involved the deliver of masterclasses, coaching and peer to peer support. GMLPN have previously taken this model and broadened it to help deliver the Provider Support Programme.
The Greater Manchester Skills Gateway Service
The Greater Manchester Skills Gateway provided a service to businesses that they understand and value. There are 3 strands of work: an Independent Referral Service, Skills Catalogue and Media Campaign, all linked and interdependent.
The Greater Manchester Skills Ambassador Programme
The Greater Manchester Skills Ambassador Programme recruited business leaders to promote the benefits of investing in skills to other Greater Manchester employers – at business forums and networking events.
Hear from our members…
GMLPN have allowed Manchester Met University to share resources across local learning providers. Through the network we have been able to work with other organisations to ensure we are giving our apprentices the best experience.