GMHP Employment & Skills Report 2020/21

A report into employment and skills opportunities created by social housing providers in Greater Manchester has revealed that in the last year over 7700 residents have been supported into or towards work, 594 apprenticeships have been created, and 233 kickstart placements have been made available for young people at risk of long-term unemployment.

The annual Employment and Skills Report, produced by the 24 housing providers in the GMHP partnership, highlights the significant effort and investment made by our members to create employment, training, and skills opportunities to support customers and communities across the city region.

Our activity focuses on three core areas:

• Investment in employment and skills opportunities for our customers and communities
• Being exemplary employers, using our business expertise and numbers of employees as a way to achieve our overall vision
• Recognising, investing in, and supporting all forms of employment and business start up

The launch of the report coincides with Living Wage Week 2021 – the annual celebration of the Living Wage movement. This year Living Wage Week will take between 15-21 November, with the new Living Wage rates announced on Monday 15th November. Many of the GMHP partnership are Living Wage accredited, with the Living Wage being paid to almost all eligible staff across the partnership.

Sandra Coleing, Assistant Chief Executive at Stockport Homes Group and Chair of the GMHP Employment and Skills Group, said:

“Over the last 18 months the Covid-19 has brought into even sharper focus some of the big issues we have been addressing together as a partnership, not least the poverty, job insecurity and inequalities that have meant the most vulnerable being hardest hit by the pandemic.

“In that context, it’s never been more important for us to create and maximise skills and employment opportunities in our communities to help deliver lasting change and financial security and resilience.

“The outcomes highlighted in our report are something the Greater Manchester Housing Providers partnership can be really proud of. Collectively, we’re making a big difference to people’s lives and helping thousands of our customers towards or into better, more sustainable employment.”