Assistant Director of Human Resources Steve Grant has been awarded an MBE for services to unemployed people in Greater Manchester.

In 2011, Steve devised and established The Works, the University’s ground-breaking initiative which has supported over 3,000 mostly unemployed local people. It provides training and support to enable them to access temporary and permanent jobs with the University and other employers including the Royal Mail, Greater Manchester Police, Bruntwood and Amazon.

One of the only initiatives of its kind in higher education – and one of only a handful in any sector – The Works has been recognised by several prestigious accolades, including a Guardian Sustainable Business Award and a Times Higher Education Award.

Steve established and chaired the Central Manchester Employers Alliance, has held a quasi-judicial role on the Committee for the Employment of Disabled People, and was appointed as a National Apprenticeships Ambassador in recognition of his leadership in the sector. He also volunteers his time to provide one-to-one mentoring support to unemployed people, and is a Trustee of a charity concerned with providing support to refugees.

In support of the University’s Campus Masterplan, Steve has devised and leads the University of Manchester Construction Academy, working with Laing O’Rourke, Sir Robert McAlpine, Balfour Beatty and the Manchester Growth Company. The Academy exists to ensure that unemployed people have the skills and vocational qualifications required to access the job and apprenticeship opportunities in construction which the development of the campus will provide.

“I am delighted to have been recognised in the 2017 New Year’s Honours List,” said Steve. “There are thousands of hugely talented but unemployed women and men of all ages in Greater Manchester, and it is a privilege to have the opportunity to work with them to help fulfil their potential.”