Education Partners

Ada, the National College for Digital Skills is a specialist digital skills college, based in Manchester Ancoats, working with local, national and international industry partners to train higher-level and degree-level apprentices for careers in technology.

The Manchester hub serves Greater Manchester and the wider North-West region, delivering degree apprenticeships backed by Manchester City Council, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and local industry figures and employers.

The first regional cohort began in February 2021 on the Digital Innovation Apprenticeship, a two-year programme aligned to the Level 4 Software Developer Standard, with an optional third year topping up to a full BSc Degree Apprenticeship.

Bury College is a further education college offering a wide range of learning opportunities for all, recognised as an institution which responds to the needs and requirements of Greater Manchester learners and employers.

The brand-new Health and Digital Centre, opened in 2023, gives students access to state-of-the-art facilities for courses from advanced to degree level, including health and nursing, sports, computing and digital. Learning is hands-on and industry-led, helping students gain the qualifications needed to springboard their careers.

Tameside College is a further education college in the borough of Tameside, East Manchester, providing skills and training for school and college leavers, employees and the adult community.

The college has developed a reputation as a specialist provider of engineering skills training to degree level. Its Advanced Centre of Technology, opened in 2016, meets the increasing higher-level skills demand of local and regional employers, accommodating engineering, construction and digital specialisms.

Trafford & Stockport College Group delivers high-quality education and training across Greater Manchester, offering a broad curriculum of academic, vocational, technical and apprenticeship programmes. With campuses in Altrincham, Stretford, Stockport and Cheadle, the group provides outstanding teaching, guidance and support to help students succeed in their chosen careers.

TSCG works closely with regional and national employers to shape courses that reflect real industry needs, giving students access to mentoring, live briefs, masterclasses, industry visits and high-quality work placements. Specialist areas include digital technologies, health and social care, business, construction, and creative industries.

The college group invests heavily in state-of-the-art facilities, including the STEM-based Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering Centre, specialist health simulation wards and clinical training environments, and world-class creative and digital studios developed through a £25 million campus transformation.

A forward-thinking approach has powered progress for 125 years. Today, the University of Salford is bolstered by countless industry initiatives and innovative research programmes, building a thriving education community in Salford and beyond.

As the higher education partner for the GMIoT, the university accommodates four schools covering the arts, media, creative technology, business, health, society, science, engineering and the environment, with courses written and advised upon by senior industry professionals.

On a Salford Higher Technical Skills course, you will learn by doing, developing the technical and practical skills needed to satisfy industry and employer needs.

Wigan & Leigh College offers exceptional teaching, support and guidance across academic, vocational, technical and apprenticeship programmes, developing learner skills and knowledge for successful careers while meeting local and regional needs.

Strong partnerships with regional employers, through mentoring, industry masterclasses, industry visits and work placements, prepare young people for success in further study and careers, specialising in engineering, construction and digital.

The college offers cutting-edge facilities in the Centre of Excellence in Engineering & Construction (Pagefield) and the newly opened Centre for Advanced Technical Studies.