Green Gown Awards 2014 - Social Responsibility - The University of Manchester - Highly Commended

The Works – The University of Manchester’s Local Employment and Skills Centre

Unique in British higher education, The Works is a University of Manchester led employment facility providing access to training and jobs for residents in the University’s immediate communities that experience high levels of worklessness. 1,468 unemployed people have been supported into work since 2011, producing £23m savings to the local economy.

The University partnered with two local Housing Trusts, the public sector and major private sector employers to establish two physical ‘one-stop-shop’ employability Centres in its local wards of Moss Side and Ardwick. These provide local residents seeking work with access to training, advice and ring-fenced job opportunities - both at The University of Manchester itself and with a host of other partner employers.

At the University of Manchester, 92% of Grade 1/2 staff are now from Greater Manchester, significantly increasing local people employed. It has enhanced the University’s community engagement profile, transformed lives and is highly valued by elected Councillors and residents.

Top 3 learnings

1 Universities are major employers and can therefore play a significant role in proactively addressing unemployment in their local regions
2 More impact can be created in addressing unemployment by partnering with other large employers
3 Proactively establishing centres in the local community is the best way to overcome preconceptions about the types and availability of jobs in universities.

What the judges say ... 

This is a well established project addressing a clear need. Big impact, big outcome.

What it means to win ...

“The Works is very special in British higher education and has transformed the lives of more than a thousand unemployed people in our local community. Winning a Green Gown award helps to highlight our approach to other universities who wish to address unemployment in their local regions.”

Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor

Videos

• The Works – The University of Manchester’s Local Employment and Skills Centre (click to hide)