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Manchester, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Manchester, home to more than half a million inhabitants, is a city located in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, in the north-west of England.
groups
City population
587,500
person
Member since
2024
Mayor
Leader of Manchester City Council Ms Bev Craig
Vision
Manchester aims to establish itself as the country’s best city for adult education and skills by 2025 through a multitiered lifelong learning vision. In the short term, the city focuses on aligning education with economic needs through collaborative plans like the Local Skills Improvement Plan, enhanced devolution and targeted community engagement activities. Long-term goals include lobbying for increased adult skills alignment, fostering social equity through the Making Manchester Fairer principles, and coinvestment in an updated citywide learning strategy.
Manchester has a proud history of promoting learning to improve quality of life. Lifelong learning is a central part of our approach to developing a more inclusive and equal city.
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Leader of Manchester City Council Ms Bev Craig
Mayor of Manchester
Policies, plan and implementation
Sustainability and health
Manchester has launched the Making Manchester Fairer action plan, which addresses social determinants of health. Courses to manage long-term conditions are accessible via a social prescribing approach at local health practices. Additionally, programmes like GM Working Well and Individual Placement Support in Primary Care target employment for residents with health conditions or disabilities, fostering both economic and mental well-being.
Equity and inclusion
The Making Manchester Fairer plan engages with 90 ethnic communities to tackle discrimination and improve employment. Educational providers, such as the Manchester Adult Education Service and the University of Manchester, offer barrier-free entry and programmes aimed at addressing racial inequities and underrepresentation in higher education.
Decent work and entrepreneurship
74.5 per cent of local employers in Manchester pay their employees the real living wage, and the city has accredited 225 businesses to date under its Good Employment Charter. Initiatives like the GBP 1.5 billion innovation district and the Digital Security Hub aim to foster entrepreneurial growth, while programmes such as Start Smart and Enterprising You help residents engage in business start-ups and self-employment.
Good practices
The Factory
The Factory, a GBP 210.8 million arts venue with a 5,000-person capacity, is set to create 1,500+ jobs and generate GBP 1.1 billion over ten years. It also houses the Factory Academy, aiming to reach 10,000 young people in five years through inclusive internships and training.
First Generation
Manchester Metropolitan University’s First Generation scholarship programme aims to transform 1,000 lives by 2025 with a GBP 4 million budget. It offers residents holistic support, including help with university applications, career readiness and a GBP 2,000 bursary, financed by external sponsors and university match funding.