Overview

The Manchester College Group is the largest organisation of its kind in Europe. It encompasses the largest and most diverse further education college in the UK with over 80,000 learners. Organisations within the group also provide commercial services to SME’s and large employers across the UK.

Our aim is to contribute to economic growth through the development of skills locally, regionally and nationally. Based on a strong belief system that the learner should be at the heart of everything that we do. We are committed to improving the employability and economic situation of all individuals, by giving them access to the best training, education and employment opportunities, whatever their background.

Whilst we have a very clear commitment to the city of Manchester and its people, we are also focused on responding to the needs of the region as a whole and to providing services to employers nationally.

We work with over 3,000 employers each year, small businesses and large international corporations, developing the skills of their workforces, improving performance and productivity through the training and services we offer. We work in close partnership with others – employers, awarding and statutory bodies, universities and city partners – in Manchester and nationally in support of joint goals, contributing to local and national economic growth.

Why choose The Manchester College?

We work with over 3,000 employers each year, small businesses and large international corporations, developing the skills of their workforces, improving performance and productivity through the training and services we offer. We work in close partnership with others – employers, awarding and statutory bodies, universities and city partners – in Manchester and nationally in support of joint goals, contributing to local and national economic growth.

We strongly believe in the value of Apprenticeships and are committed to working with employers to increase our, already significant, offer to apprentices. A key focus of our Apprenticeship activity is through the development of Higher Level Apprenticeships, which will provide a vital work-based progression route to higher levels of study for employed learners.

Programmes for unemployed people and those not in education, employment or training (NEET) are a key focus. Through the school leavers award we provide financial support for young people, and our priority skills programmes ensure that learners achieve the skills required to progress into employment.

Our growing HE and degree programmes further support our view that access to high level training and education should be available to all irrespective of the background.

I am very proud to lead one of the most dynamic organisations of its kind in Europe. With over 5000 staff operating across more than 20 UK locations we provide training, education, business services, Apprenticeships and bespoke services to employers from secondary school level to masters degree.

Our size offers valuable benefits for our learners in terms of facilities, resources, the breadth of the curriculum we offer and progression opportunities. However, we offer more than size and scope to our learners and clients – we offer them a sense of belonging to an organisation that cares passionately about its mission and its people.

Nationally we provide locally-based solutions to national issues. We are the market leader in offender learning, teaching and training offenders in prisons and young offender institutions across many regions of the UK. We have a national profile in corporate blended professional learning, under the MOL brand. The Group has an innovative and growing on-line delivery capability and delivers major national contracts for government and industry.

As an organisation we are dedicated to increasing aspirations and raising participation and progression opportunities for all.

Whether an employer, learner, or partner, I hope that you decide to join us, once you have seen the many opportunities that are available to you, with us.

John Thornhill
Chief Executive

OUR MISSION

To improve lives and economic success through learning and skills.

OUR VISIONS

Further Education: ‘The leading college for progression and employability.’
Higher Education: ‘A leading provider of flexible, affordable, career-relevant, university education.’
Offender Learning: ‘The UK leader and innovator in offender learning, skills and employability.’
Apprenticeships and Employer Training: ‘A leading provider of regional and national employer training.’
MOL: ‘The UK leader in the flexible provision of professional qualifications.’

OUR VALUES

As an organisation, we share a common set of values across everything we do. These help to define who we are and how we behave.

Integrity – we are honest, trustworthy and open.
One team – we collaborate, respect each other and contribute to team goals.
Always improving – we are forward-thinking, we innovate and take ownership.
Can do – we are positive, inclusive, flexible and proactive.
Sustainable – we take a long-term view, environmentally, financially and socially.

ACADEMICS

• A Levels
• Access
• Animal Care
• Apprenticeships
• Arden School of Theatre
• Automotive and Engineering
• Business and Professional
• Care
• Computing and IT
• Construction
• Counselling, Alternative Therapies
• Creative and Digital Media
• Design and Visual Arts
• Floristry and Horticulture
• Hair and Beauty Therapy
• Health and Safety
• Hospitality and Catering
• Languages
• Learning Difficulties
• Music
• Office IT and Administration
• Performing Arts
• Public Services
• Skills for Learning
• Sport
• Teacher Education
• Tourism, Aviation, Retail and Leisure
• Sport
• Teacher Education
• Tourism, Aviation, Retail and Leisure
• Trade Union Education
• Transtech – Driver Education