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Work and skills

We are a major local employer in Greater Manchester, offering a wide range of job opportunities for people from our local communities.

Our workforce of more than 12,000 colleague includes many residents from across the city region, working in roles across the university from administration, catering, security, and maintenance services to academic and technical positions.

The Works

We work in partnership with The Works, an award– winning employment initiative that is helping to transform local people’s life chances. Based in the heart of the Ardwick community, The Works supports local residents to find jobs, develop skills and access training, financial advice and support. Many of our vacancies are advertised through The Works, with some roles available exclusively through the programme. 

Alongside this, we carry out leading research into work and employment, with a particular focus on fairness at work, including workplace diversity, fair pay and discrimination. As part of our commitment to supporting people and communities across the city region, the University also pays the Real Living Wage to all colleagues, based on the actual cost of living.

Growing social enterprises

Developing social enterprises among our colleagues and students is part of a wider approach that encourages the sharing of knowledge and innovation for the social benefit of Greater Manchester. These enterprises are supported through the University’s Innovation Factory. 

We have received national recognition for the range of social enterprises developed by our colleagues and students, many of which are making a real difference in communities across the city region. We also support the development of social enterprise skills more widely through our Manchester Enterprise Centre, helping students turn ideas into action. 

Social value

The University is committed to delivering social value through its procurement process. We believe that we can secure wider social, economic, and environmental benefits by considering what we buy and who we buy from.