The University’s employment centre, The Works, is set to move to a significantly larger building which will enable it to provide more training and opportunities to help local people in to work.

Since 2011 the Works has been located in Moss Side but, after helping over 4,000 people into employment, and faced with growing demand from across the region, it is relocating to a much larger building a very short distance away in Ardwick.

The new building is owned by the Salvation Army and has been refurbished with the generous support of Wilmot Dixon, a University contractor. It has a large outside space which will enable the Works to offer practical constructions skills training and a catering area to provide hands-on experience to job seekers and operate as a café for the local community.

The University’s Assistant Director of Human Resources Steve Grant MBE, who founded and oversees the Works, said: “Our centre in Moss Side has helped many thousands of people get jobs, at first within the University, and latterly with companies all across Greater Manchester who are coming to us wanting to get involved. It has been the perfect base for almost eight years, but the numbers of people coming to us in search of work means that we have outgrown the space. With more space we can equip more people with the skills which employers need and at the same time create a genuine community hub. With a central location and access to public transport we can serve not only our neighbouring communities, but also people in other boroughs of Greater Manchester.”

The Works will be located on Grosvenor Street close to many major construction projects, including the University’s own Manchester Engineering Campus Development. It was on this site that the Works’ 4,000^th graduate, David Seville, gained employment last year.