Reflecting on our impact and looking ahead to a new chapter
Reflecting on our impact and looking ahead to a new chapter
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Posted By The Growth Company
The Growth Company was established over 35 years ago in Greater Manchester, a region renowned for its ambition, resilience, and adaptability.
From these foundations, we have grown into an organisation that delivers impact not only across Greater Manchester, but right across the UK.
Our purpose has remained consistent: to enable growth, create jobs, and improve lives.
Our impact
As we get ready to embark on our new 3-year Corporate Plan, we reflect on the impact we have already had with the people, businesses and communities we serve.
Over the last three years alone, we have supported more than 113,000 businesses to implement improvements, created, safeguarded or filled almost 78,000 employment opportunities, helped over 136,000 people to positively progress through our employment and skills services, and supported more than 9,000 individuals and businesses to accelerate action against climate change.
"Our success relies on the collective efforts of all our colleagues. Every part of our organisation contributes to inclusive growth, and it is this shared commitment that has enabled the Growth Company to deliver meaningful impact across Greater Manchester and the UK for more than 35 years. The dedication, agility and professionalism of our people continue to ensure we deliver what matters for people, businesses and communities."
Mike Blackburn Chair of the Growth Company
Behind every impact stat is a real story – this is often a journey that GC has been uniquely placed to support across our Group services.
Enabling Growth
In Greater Manchester, we work with businesses to drive growth, productivity and innovation - directly supporting the city-region’s ambition to be a great place to do business and the fastest‑growing economy outside London.
Through targeted support, trade missions and sector‑focused events, we help attract inward investment and strengthen key ecosystems creating new opportunities for businesses across the city‑region.
Our work with 30Seconds Group is just one example of how we supported an ambitious business through strategic mentoring, investor connections and international exposure. This helped cement their position as the UK’s largest indoor media company. Their journey demonstrates how, with the right support, high‑potential businesses can scale successfully - driving economic growth and creating new opportunities across Greater Manchester and beyond.
Beyond Greater Manchester, our commercial and insight‑led offers - including Centre for Assessment, Green Economy and GC Insight - help businesses and places make better‑informed decisions. From investment‑ready analysis and workforce assessment to key accreditations, decarbonisation planning and growth insight that expands our positive impact across the UK.
Creating Jobs
Last year, our inward investment activity attracted high‑value global investment and strengthened local economies, helping create 4,000 new jobs across all ten GM local authorities. We also helped 10,634 new business start-ups through our business support and business finance services.
Our flagship Aspire in Partnership initiative works with employers across Greater Manchester to embed inclusive recruitment and workforce development, helping them attract and retain underrepresented talent while meeting social value commitments and building resilient, diverse teams.
A powerful example is our work with Capricorn Security to design a bespoke training and recruitment programme for unemployed women. The outcome: all 12 participants completed the training and secured jobs with the company, demonstrating how targeted support can create sustainable employment, challenge industry stereotypes and open new talent pipelines.
Improving Lives
Enabling growth and creating jobs are an important part of what we do, it is equally vital to ensure this growth and opportunity is inclusive and sustainable.
In 2025/26 we were proud to support 44,558 individuals to positively progress, helping 8,442 into work; and our skills programmes helped open pathways into education and training. For example, we worked with manufacturing business KANE International to help them expand globally and build their talent pipeline. This included a placement for T Level student, Charlie who has since progressed into an apprenticeship with the company.
It also includes young people like Max Fleming, who is one of 1,085 young people not in education, employment or training that we have supported into employment or further learning this year.
At just 14 Max faced significant challenges in mainstream education, including exclusion from school and undiagnosed ADHD, autism, and dyslexia. Despite this, Max joined a GC apprenticeship programme and has since excelled, earning recognition at major industry awards and building a strong foundation for a successful career in construction.
Looking to the future
Our new Corporate Plan for 2026–2029 is a notable evolution of everything we have achieved to date and sets out how we will continue to deliver impact in an environment that is changing more rapidly than ever. It reflects our goal to be a globally respected organisation that leads with purpose, responds intelligently to change, and delivers for people, businesses and communities.
Our Goal: To be a globally respected leader in delivering inclusive, sustainable growth for people, businesses and communities.
As we enter this next phase, we do so with confidence and clarity. The progress of the past three years has built strong foundations, and the ambition of our new Corporate Plan reflects the shared commitment of our colleagues, partners and communities. We look forward to sharing more soon and continuing this journey together.
"Our new Corporate Plan is a notable evolution of everything we’ve achieved together. It reflects the ambition, talent and purpose that defines us and is a clear statement of how we will deliver greater impact in the years ahead. By working together and staying focused on our goal, we will keep making a meaningful difference for people, places, businesses and the environment."
