Highly skilled
World class and home grown talent sustaining economic success
To grow as we intend to, we need to attract and develop the best global talent, education and skills provision. We must also work with key sectors to meet their demands for skills locally. We must raise aspirations so everyone can seize the opportunities of living in a thriving economy. People need clear routes to making their aspirations a reality by up-skilling or re-skilling, in a city brimming with opportunities.
As a city we will:
- Work with employers to get everyone earning a real living wage
- Inspire the next generation to be the best they can be with knowledge and skills to succeed
- Use devolution to align the skills system with the needs of our current and future economy
- Create strong partnerships between schools, colleges, trainers and employers to create pathways to work that meet key sectors' demands and which include a meaningful work placement for every young person. This includes excellent schools focused on science, technology, maths, English and digital skills
- Continue driving growth in high value sectors, offering exciting careers to attract the best global talent and encourage top class Manchester graduates to stay
- Connect higher education to businesses in the city giving graduates support for new ideas and a clear route to quality employment
- Reduce the numbers with no qualifications and increase opportunities to improve skills through working life
- Use devolved business support powers to help employers unlock workforce potential by promoting professional development at all levels and creating entry-level roles with clear paths to higher value, higher skilled roles
- Respond to student expectations for sustainable development in studies and institutional practice, building on the Eco Schools programme and commitments from schools and colleges.
Measures of success:
- Raise educational attainment above the national average at every stage with a focus on science, technology English and maths
- All school leavers have a clear pathway to further education, training, an apprenticeship or a job in Greater Manchester, aligned with sector demand and future growth
- Smaller gap between residents' earnings and average pay in the city
- More graduates in the city
- Fewer with no - or low skills
- Higher skilled workforce
- More courses delivering education for sustainable development at all levels
