Financial and Professional Services

Greater Manchester is the UK's pre-eminent regional centre for Financial and Professional Services valued at more than £9 billion and employing around 172,000 people, almost 20 per cent of the workforce. Greater Manchester hosts one of the four regional centres for the National Skills Academy for Financial Services.

The collaborative partnership with pro.manchester is one major success of the past year and it has already, and will continue to, extend the group’s employer engagement opportunities. Collaboration with learning providers and cooperation with the National Skills Academy and the Higher Level Skills Pathfinder are key achievements of the Sector Development Group (SDG).

Developing employer-focused skills provision is a priority and, as part of this drive, the SDG is engaging with professional bodies in the sector. There has already been specific engagement with the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). The SDG is hoping to engage with these, as well as other professional bodies in the future, to enhance the offer of Greater Manchester learning providers.

Another priority for the SDG is to enhance progression opportunities into higher education for vocational learners. The group is making strong progress in this area with numerous Progression Agreements for BTEC and AAT qualifications completed. Focus is now on acquiring Progression Agreements for Advanced Apprenticeships and the 14-19 diplomas. In April 2008, the SDG received a presentation from the Financial Services Skills Council (FSSC) that provided an update on the current status of the Business, Administration and Finance 14-19 diploma.

The SDG is also commissioning special projects, some supporting GMSA Advance.

Members of the Finance and Professional Services SDG:

Ashton Sixth Form College

City College Manchester

Eccles College

Financial Services Skills Council

Kaplan Financial

GM Aimhigher

MANCAT

Manchester Metropolitan University (Lead)

National Skills Academy for Financial Services

Higher Level Skills Pathfinder

Oldham College

Pro.manchester

Skills Solution

Stockport College

Tameside College

Trafford College

University Centre Oldham

University of Bolton (Lead)

University of Manchester

University of Salford

Wigan & Leigh College

Please find minutes and project plans of your SDG in the members' area.