Member Article

Shortlists revealed for Greater Manchester’s Skills for Business Awards

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

JMC 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

14. School of the Year

Failsworth School

Hollingworth Academy

Middleton Technology School

St John Rigby College

West Hill School

15. Learning Provider of the Year Award

Bury College

Kaplan Financial

Mantra Learning

Rochdale Training Association

Tameside College

Trafford College

16. 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

17. 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

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Skills for Business Awards .