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The shortlists have been revealed for Greater Manchester’s Skills for Business Awards that celebrate the direct impact learning has on businesses in the region. In total 70 Greater Manchester organisations or individuals have been shortlisted in 17 categories. Amongst the winners will be small, medium and large business of the year, apprentice of the year and a special Rising Star award for an exceptional learner, who will collect their awards at The Hilton Hotel Manchester Deansgate on 3 July.
The jury panel who judged the 145 entries, comprised of some of the region’s most notable representatives from the learning and skills sector including Councillor Sue Murphy, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Employment and Skills at Manchester City Council; Mike Blackburn, the chair of the Learning and Enterprise Partnership in Greater Manchester and Regional Director for BT; Rachael Beasley, FE Work Based Learning Account Manager at Pearson Work Based Learning; Paul Holme, Skills Policy Advisor at New Economy and David Teale, Chief Executive of North of England Excellence.
The awards are created through collaboration between the Greater Manchester Learning Provider Network (GMPLN), Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce (GMCC) and New Economy (NE).
Louise Timperley, Head of Skills and Employment from Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce said: “We were impressed by the high number and calibre of entries. From having spoken to a large number of organisations in advance, we were expecting a strong turnout in our first year, but to have 145 entries from such a broad range of organisations representing the length and breadth of Greater Manchester is something which has surpassed all our expectations. It really demonstrates how many public and private sector companies are committed to learning in the workplace and acknowledge the importance of people as an asset for their business.“
Dave Rusk from North of England Excellence, who designed and managed the assessment process added: “Across all categories the assessors found the entries to be of a high standard. Many told some inspirational stories and showcased some outstanding examples of skills being nurtured and developed across Greater Manchester.”
The ceremony will be held on 3 July at The Hilton Hotel Manchester Deansgate. Irish comedian and presenter of TV’s The Apprentice, You’re Fired!, Dara O Briain will be compère, promising an entertaining evening. Tickets, priced at £75 or £700 for a table of ten are available from the Skills for Business Awards website www.skillsforbusinessawards.co.uk
The headline sponsor for the Greater Manchester Skills for Business Awards 2014 is Pearson Work Based Learning and other sponsors include Manchester Metropolitan University, Salford Business School and Greater Manchester Colleges Group (GMCG). Other partners include Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), Apprenticeships and North of England Excellence.
The full shortlist is below:
Financial and Professional Services Skills for Business Award
Asons Solicitors in association with Bolton College
Beever and Struthers in association with Kaplan Financial
TBD Associates in association with Hopwood Hall College
Health and Social Care Skills for Business Award
Ashton, Wigan & District YMCA in association with Yale Training & G K Training
Essential Learning Company
North Road Dental Practice in association with Tameside College
Salford Care Employer Skills Group in association with Progress to Excellence
UK Mobility Group - Local Mobility - Luggie Scooters in association with Learn Direct
Creative and Digital Skills for Business Award – sponsored by Manchester Metropolitan University
The Juice Academy in association with Total People
UKFast in association with Total People
Web Applications UK in association with WA:UK Centre of Excellence
Construction Skills for Business Award
Barlows (UK) in association with SBC Training
Heyrod Construction in association with Heyrod Training Services
Rothwell Plumbing Services in association with ProCo. NW
Stockport Homes
Logistics Skills for Business Award
Austin Wilkinson & Sons in association with Mantra Learning
Chorlton Express Transport in association with Mantra Learning
James Nuttall (Transport) in association with Mantra Learning
The Bodens Group in association with Mantra Learning
Yearsley Logistics in association with Mantra Learning
Retail Skills for Business Award
Crane Payment Innovations in association with Oldham College
Tonetech in association with Churchgate Academy
UK Mobility Group - Local Mobility - Luggie Scooters in association with Learn Direct
Social Enterprise Skills for Business Award
EAT (Employment and Training) Pennines in association with Hopwood Hall College & Bury College
Essential Learning Company
Public Sector Skills for Business Award
Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service in association with The Manchester College Bury College
Greater Manchester Police in association with Damar Training
Manchester City Council in association with The Manchester College, Manchester Skills Solutions, NW Employers
Small Business of the Year Skills for Business Award – sponsored by Salford Business School
BDB
Essential Learning Company in association with Essential Learning Company Limited
Northern Employment Services in association with Rochdale Training
One Goal in association with Know and Do
TBD Associates in association with Hopwood Hall College
Tonetech in association with Churchgate Academy
Medium Business of the Year Skills for Business Award
MC IT
Pennine Telecom in association with Bolton College
UKFast in association with Total People
Large Business of the Year Skills for Business Award
Stockport Homes
Stream Intelligent Contact in association with Rochdale Training
United Utilities in association with Bolton College
Sector Collaboration Award
Beever and Struthers, Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors (employer skills group for the finance and professional sector)
Foundations in Housing (Housing Employer Skills Group)
Greater Manchester Legal Employer Skills Group
Greater Manchester Logistics Employer Skills Group
Salford Care Employer Skills Group
Learning and Skills Champion Award
Catherine Langstreth, Bolton College
Helen Cobb, Deckers Hospitality Group
Jenny Mason, BDB
Nuala Gaffney, Boardman Brothers
School of the Year
Failsworth School
Hollingworth Academy
Middleton Technology School
St John Rigby College
West Hill School
Learning Provider of the Year Award
Bury College
Kaplan Financial
Mantra Learning
Rochdale Training Association
Tameside College
Trafford College
Apprentice of the Year Award – sponsored by GMCG
Ali Shafai, Claremont Property Holdings in association with Trinity Business Training
Joshua Cass, E Farringtons in association with Oldham Engineering Group Training Association
Katie Guy, Trafford Council in association with Trafford College
Ryan Brandon, Yearsley Logistics in association with Mantra Learning
Sean O'Connor, East Manchester Builders in association with Tameside College
Rising Star Award
Bradley Rawlinson, Barlows (UK) in association with SBC Training
Gaynor Walton, Deckers Hospitality Group in association with Babcock
Luke Warburton, Travis Perkins in association with Skills Solutions
Nuala Gaffney, Boardman Brothers in association with Mantra Learning
Sarah Ratcliffe, Sarah's Hair in association with Bolton College
