Manchester Museum hosted the launch of Powershift on Thursday 19 February, bringing together around 100 young people and business leaders to reimagine how the city approaches social impact. The event was delivered in partnership with W/Youth and sponsored by Manchester Museum and Unit M, the University’s innovation unit.

W/Youth is a youth powered consultancy that supports businesses and public sector organisations to co create solutions with young people. With over 40 percent of young people in Manchester living in poverty, their mission is to redirect £1 million of local economic value back into youth services by 2026, paying young contributors a Living Wage and supporting their development.

The evening brought together young people and business leaders to take part in networking, focused discussions and collaborative problem solving. They worked together on issues that affect the lives of young Mancunians, from mental health and wellbeing to the opportunities and challenges emerging in artificial intelligence.

Through engaging activities, young people were able to explore practical ways to influence social impact in the city and hear directly from young leaders and local organisations. A youth led solutions workshop, facilitated by RealWorth, brought mixed groups together to develop tangible proposals for improving life in Greater Manchester, while young attendees were able to meet future employers, build connections with peers and showcase ideas that reflect their priorities and lived experience.

The event demonstrated the importance of the University’s convening power in bringing people together to imagine what a better future for young people could look like in the city. By creating a shared space for young people, employers and community organisations, the University helped spark new conversations and connections that support more inclusive approaches to social impact and ensures that young people have a meaningful voice in shaping the opportunities emerging from the city’s continued growth.