Delivering Social Value in Greater Manchester

• Working Well: Support to Succeed offers tailored support to help Greater Manchester residents build skills, confidence, and community connections.
• Over 11,000 positive outcomes have been achieved, including jobs, education, and wellbeing support, alongside strong commitments to staff development and sustainability.
• The programme has generated significant social and local economic value, with hundreds of volunteering hours and several good news stories from participants.

Working Well: Support to Succeed is a transformative programme designed to unlock potential and reduce inequality across Greater Manchester. Funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, it targets residents who are economically inactive and furthest from the labour market, offering tailored, person-centred support to help them overcome barriers and achieve meaningful progress.

With a strong focus on community engagement, the programme has reached thousands of residents through a diverse menu of interventions, from digital skills and financial literacy to health and wellbeing, volunteering, and career planning. Delivered in partnership with local VCSE organisations, it ensures support is accessible, culturally appropriate, and rooted in trusted community spaces.

Here's the programme's impact at a glance:

• Over 11,000 positive outcomes achieved, including employment, education, and improved wellbeing.
• Significant social value generated through hundreds of volunteering hours and community-led initiatives.
• Strong local economic impact, with increased engagement in skills provision and reduced structural barriers to employment.

The programme’s success is built on its commitment to inclusive delivery, flexible support, and collaborative working with local authorities and stakeholders. It’s not just about getting people into jobs; it’s about building confidence, independence, and long-term resilience.

This support also extends to the programme’s staff:

• 100% of staff are paid the Real Living Wage.
• 21 hours of Carbon Reduction and Climate Change Training have been provided to staff.
• 62 weeks of apprenticeships provided on the contract.

But that’s not all. They have monitored their broader social impact, too:

• Achieved 243% of the targeted CO₂e emissions savings on the contract through successful decarbonisation initiatives.
• 78.97 Full-Time Equivalent roles on the contract have been filled by Greater Manchester residents, generating £2,160,697.27 in Social and Local Economic Value (SLEV) to date.
• 40 voluntary hours contributed to support Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprises (VCSEs), excluding expert advisory services.
• 472.5 hours of volunteering time delivered to support local community projects, generating £7,999.43 SLEV.

All this amazing progress benefits individuals, as well. In recent months, Working Well: Support to Succeed has received several good news stories from people whose lives have been positively affected.

One participant said: “Losing my job and visa left me feeling stuck. But being part of this programme and having this wraparound support has restored my hope for the future.”

Another participant commented: “I’m incredibly grateful to everyone involved, and I would recommend the programme to anyone who feels unsure of their next steps. It truly has made a lasting difference in my life. Thank you so much.”

Someone else stated: “Support to Succeed is absolutely brilliant. I’ve told all my friends and family. Every Greater Manchester resident should know about this service, especially people who’ve been out of work and don’t know where to start. It changed everything for me.”

The Working Well: Support to Succeed team is committed to delivering measurable social value outcomes, creating lasting benefits for individuals and communities across city-region.

If you would like to learn more or refer yourself or someone else to the programme, visit our website, call us on 0161 236 8118, or email us at supporttosucceed[at]gcemployment.uk.

The Growth Company

The Growth Company is an award-winning social enterprise with a 30-year history of enabling growth, creating jobs, and improving lives. We help people and businesses to develop, grow, and succeed through a range of employment, skills, and business support services. We provide employment, justice, and health services across the North of England and beyond.

Contact us today to find out more.

Working Well: Support to Succeed is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The city-region's allocation, managed by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and delivered by The Growth Company, will provide support for up to 8,872 residents between January 2024 and March 2026.