Improving Greater Manchester – joined up thinking in the further education (FE) sector

A unique event took place at the Openshaw Campus on Friday, 26th February. Principals from the Greater Manchester Colleges Group (GMCG), involving 24 further education colleges from Greater Manchester’s ten local authorities, invited key representatives from the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA), to a presentation and discussion forum in which they aimed to reinforce the benefits of the FE sector and highlighted how it can support local authorities in achieving their ambitions.

The event was attended by AGMA leaders, and chief executives, directors of children’s services and appropriate cabinet members from all of Greater Manchester’s local authorities. The colleges aimed to ensure all attendees understood the impact of the work they are doing and discussed the implications around funding.

The performance of the Greater Manchester colleges was demonstrated, utilising independent research on their economic and social impact, including case studies of how individuals, communities, groups and businesses are supported, leading to a borough and sub-regional action plan.

From April, Greater Manchester is to be given new legal powers to direct how public funding for adult skills is spent. These powers are to be deployed through the Commission for the New Economy being designated as a statutory Employment and Skills Board, making it responsible for developing a skills strategy with local employers.

Alongside this, Greater Manchester will receive a single allocation for 16-19 places in Schools and Further Education from 2011-12 (except Academies funding). In addition, Greater Manchester will secure a range of freedoms and flexibilities in relation to apprenticeships. The AGMA Executive Board will be the primary accountable body for post-16 provision, with the role discharged to a new 16-19 sub regional group for Greater Manchester.

Peter Tavernor, chair of GMCG said: 'Our aim is to have a better dialogue with AGMA about the way in which we can support it in achieving its ambitions. Ultimately, we believe that colleges can provide many of the solutions needed by local authorities, to accelerate the recovery of the sub-region and improve the aspirations of communities.'

Lord Peter Smith, chair of AGMA said: 'We welcome the transfer of powers, the new relationship and the identity given to the sub-region, but emphasis needs to be on communities, neighbourhoods and localism that joins up the delivery agenda with other agents in the "total place".

'We are hopeful that this will be a first step to even more successful collaboration between AGMA and GMCG in the future.'