New partnership will connect Trafford’s growth with local skills and jobs

As plans continue to progress for Therme Manchester and the growth of Trafford City, GC has joined Trafford Council, Trafford & Stockport College Group, Therme Manchester, the University of Salford and the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce to understand future workforce and skills needs.  

A new Labour Market and Skills Assessment will gather insight from employers to help shape future skills provision, training programmes and employment pathways across Trafford.  

The work comes as investment and regeneration continue across Trafford City, including Therme Manchester, which is expected to create around 1,200 jobs across 47 different disciplines when it opens in 2028. Opportunities are expected across hospitality, leisure, wellness, operations, customer experience, facilities management, digital technology and a range of specialist roles. 
Connecting growth with opportunity 

At the heart of the initiative is a shared ambition to help local people, especially young people, take advantage of the jobs and opportunities being created as Trafford City continues to grow. 

Drawing on insight from its work with employers, residents and partners, this partnership reflects GC’s wider commitment to connecting growth with social impact, ensuring investment translates into lasting benefits for people, businesses and places.

Justin Bentham, Director of Place at the Growth Company, said:

"Understanding the needs is vital to meeting them, this partnership is about putting down a strong foundation in order to help TraffordCity and the surrounding areas now and well into the future.   

"The Growth Company is looking forward to working with Trafford Council and the other partners to help deliver real impacts and outcomes for local residents. It's a first step to ensure we're fuelling growth and expanding the opportunities available in the city-region."

Cllr Tom Ross, Leader of Trafford Council, said:

“This work ties in with our Council priority to foster a thriving economy here. By identifying the skills and workforce requirements needed to support Trafford City and the wider borough’s continued expansion, the research will help ensure that local people, businesses and communities are well positioned to benefit from the area's long-term investment and regeneration programme. The survey will reveal what skills are needed by growing businesses in our area so that courses run by colleges and training providers mirror those needs – and local people are equipped to get meaningful jobs with great prospects, close to where they live.”

Businesses in Trafford can help inform the research by completing the Trafford City Skills Needs Survey. The survey closes on 31 October.  

Partners will use the evidence to inform future curriculum planning, skills programmes, investment and collaborative activity, with the ambition of ensuring that Trafford City’s economic growth translates into sustainable employment, progression and opportunity for local communities.