Manchester Leads the Way on Jobs

Manchester city region is committed to developing and delivering a flexible system to provide individually-tailored support, to help individuals into work.

In a paper ‘Work Skills’ that is being presented to Parliament today by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) and Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS), the Manchester city region is highlighted as an example of a region that is working together and is beginning to bring together the commissioning of core employment and skills services, such as the Flexible New Deal.

Speaking today at the Ministerial launch of the report, in London, Mike Emmerich Chief Executive of Manchester Enterprises the Economic Development Agency says:

"The Association of Greater Manchester Authorities(AGMA) submitted the Manchester Multi Area Agreement proposal to Government on Friday 6 June. As part of this proposal we have looked how best the agencies within the region can come together to develop and deliver an integrated approach to help people into work, especially those in the most deprived areas of Greater Manchester.

"Greater Manchester has employment and skills at the heart of its MAA proposition and is linking with other policy areas such as housing, health etc so that the relevant agencies can offer the right support to individuals and employers at the right time."

"In Manchester DWP and DIUS will work with the new MAA to enhance the services provided to longer term jobseekers, providing deeper support to overcome skills and other barriers that people face. This will involve innovative co-commissioning bringing together LSC, DWP’s Flexible New Deal and local resources from local authorities."

Additional provision to enhance Jobcentre Plus support will start to be commissioned from September 2008, with customers accessing provision from April 2009. As part of this, DWP will involve local partners in the commissioning and performance management of the Flexible New Deal contract and in the process of developing a competitive market of providers.

Manchester’s ten local authorities as well as Manchester Enterprises, the Learning and Skills Council, Job Centre Plus and the North West Development Agency have worked together to develop an approach that will help people into work.

Lord Peter Smith Leader of AGMA (the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities ) says:

"Greater Manchester welcomes the launch of today's report. We have worked closely and collaboratively on these proposals on skills and employment. It is as important as it is welcome that the Government and we recognise the need to work better to meet the needs of those looking to get back into work and training"

Ends

Notes to Editors
For further information please contact Liz Reuben, Head of Communications on 0161 237 4179 or mobile : 07525 392369

1. Manchester Enterprises is the economic development agency for Greater Manchester.
2. The Greater Manchester area encompasses: Manchester; Salford; Bury; Bolton; Rochdale;Oldham; Tameside; Stockport; Trafford and Wigan.
3. It has a strategic remit to deliver economic growth and to improve the prosperity of local people. It is responsible for economic analysis, economic development strategy formulation and implementation, and programme management.
4. Its vision for Greater Manchester is: "A world-class city region at the heart of a thriving North."
5. Manchester Enterprises is a company limited by guarantee.
6. The Manchester Enterprises board is private sector-led made up of individuals from Greater Manchester.
7. Manchester Enterprises is accountable to the Greater Manchester Forum. Members of the Greater Manchester Forum include the private sector, local government, the voluntary sector, further education, higher education, trade unions and various regional partners.
8. For more details, please see the Manchester Enterprises website: www.manchester-enterprises.com