Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is the UK home of Skills4Living and the place where the programme was first piloted. With 2.8 million residents and a strong history of innovation across health, education and skills, the city-region provides an ideal environment to develop and grow a new model of life skills education.
Its diversity, its integrated public services, and its commitment to supporting young people make it a natural foundation for this work.
Partnership with GMCA and the MBacc
Skills4Living is now part of the Greater Manchester Baccalaureate (MBacc) Year 2, led by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. Through this partnership young people will access Skills4Living as part of a region-wide effort to strengthen confidence, wellbeing and readiness for adult life.
By joining the MBacc, essential life skills are now embedded within a recognised city-region framework, helping more learners move through education with the tools they need to thrive.
Partner education providers
We work with universities, colleges, apprenticeship providers and independent training organisations across Greater Manchester. These partnerships ensure Skills4Living is delivered consistently, with clear support for onboarding, digital access and peer-led learning.
More than 2,500 learners have now taken part in the programme through these partner institutions.
“The programme has helped our apprentices develop wider soft skills like leadership and teamwork… We’ve already seen learners using these experiences to support their wellbeing and to strengthen their CVs.”
Yvonne Cope, Head of Apprenticeships, Wigan & Leigh College
“Learners have gained confidence and improved their communication. We can see the difference in how they manage challenges in life.”
Jill Nagy, CEO, Rochdale Training
“Skills4Living fills a wider gap in helping students manage transitions and prepare for the world beyond university. It strongly resonates with the challenges we see every day.”
Dr. Simon Merrywest, Executive Director for the Student Experience, The University of Manchester
Partnership with GMLPN
We also work with the Greater Manchester Learning Provider Network (GMLPN), whose extensive network of training providers helps ensure the programme reaches a diverse range of learners across the city-region.