Our partners
Working in close partnerships to deliver world-class technical education and training.
Education partners
Ada, the National College for Digital Skills
Committed to developing the digital pioneers of the future
Ada, the National College for Digital Skills, is a specialist digital skills college, located in Manchester Ancoats. Ada Works closely with local, national, and international industry partners to bridge the gap between education and the real world. Training and developing higher-level and degree-level apprentices into fantastic roles in the tech sector.
Ada’s strong industry connections bridge the gap between education and the real world. Working closely with local, national and international industry partners rooted in the region.
Bury College
Skills for Jobs, Skills for Life
Bury College is a further education college which offers a wide range of learning opportunities for all. Recognised as an institution which responds to the needs and requirements of Greater Manchester learners and employers.
Bury College is a growing campus, with several centres housing a range of specialist facilities that support learners undertaking technical training.
The brand-new and purpose-built Health and Digital Centre opened in 2023 is giving students access to state-of-the-art facilities they need to train for the future. Home to a range of exciting courses, from advanced to degree level, including those leading to jobs in health and nursing, sports, computing and digital.
Learning is hands-on and industry-led, allowing students to gain the qualifications needed to springboard them into their careers.
Tameside College
Believe & Achieve
Tameside College is a further education college in the borough of Tameside, East Manchester. The college provides skills and training for school and college leavers, employees and the adult community.
Tameside aim to support the individual aspirations of each learner by providing first class learning environments and resources. The college has developed a reputation as a specialist provider of engineering skills training to degree level.
Its Advanced Centre of Technology was opened in 2016 to meet the increasing higher level skills demand of local and regional employers, with two thirds of advanced manufacturing employers concentrated in South and East Manchester.
The Advanced Technologies Centre will accommodate a range of specialisms including: engineering, construction and digital.
The University of Salford
Arrive a student, leave an expert
A forward thinking approach has powered progress for 125 years. Today, the University of Salford is bolstered by countless industry initiatives and innovative research programmes, building a thriving education community in Salford and beyond.
HE education partner for the GMIoT, the university accommodates four schools, covering areas of the arts, media, creative technology, business, health, society, science, engineering and the environment.
Each of the courses have been written and advised upon by a variety of senior industry professionals to ensure that they are developing courses that are up-to-date and relevant to industry demands.
On a Salford Higher Technical Skills course, you will learn by doing – making sure that you develop the job-ready skills needed to succeed. The course will teach you the technical elements of your chosen field and provide you with the practical skills required to satisfy industry and employer needs.
Wigan & Leigh College
Leading the way since 1857 in providing you with quality technical education and training
Wigan & Leigh College offer exceptional teaching, support and guidance in a range of academic, vocational, technical and apprenticeship programmes. The ambition is to develop leaner skills and knowledge to prepare students for successful careers, whilst providing a curriculum that meets local and regional needs.
Strong partnerships with regional employers help the college to prepare young people for success in further studies and careers. Working with employer partners through mentoring, industry masterclasses, industry visits and work placements. Specialising in engineering, construction and digital.
The college offers cutting edge facilities and industry standard equipment in the Centre of Excellence in Engineering & Construction (Pagefield) and the newly opened Centre for Advanced Technical Studies.
Key employer partners
GMIoT is a Greater Manchester partnership collaborating with key employers to collectively shape the curriculum in a method that prepares our upcoming students to gain in-demand skills for the future.
GCHQ: Government Communications Headquarters
National intelligence, security and cyber agency.
Offices in central Manchester
GCHQ is a world-leading intelligence, cyber and security agency with a mission to keep the UK safe. Embarking on a once in a generation undertaking in Manchester and the North West, granted significant investment to accommodate workforce growth by 2030. The plan is to create a GCHQ where everyone, whatever their start in life, can join, thrive and give back to the communities that they serve.
Over the past 2 years, GCHQ have involved over 600 students across Greater Manchester. Working with School, college and university students through partnerships with industry and academia across the North West region to grow and sustain our diverse talent pipelines.
GCHQ’s partnership with GMIoT will offer software engineering apprenticeships, analyst development programmes and university placements for students from diverse, underrepresented backgrounds.
“To truly protect the nation we must reflect the nation”.
Laing O’Rourke
Major engineering and construction organisation.
Offices in South Manchester
Laing O’Rourke is an international engineering and construction company delivering state-of-the-art infrastructure and buildings projects for clients in the UK.
With over 150 years of expertise, its highly-trained people understand the challenges of modern construction and combining purposeful technology, wielding innovations like digital engineering and AI for powerful results.
Laing O’Rourke has delivered a number of high profile projects for Manchester Metrolink, Manchester Airports Group and Manchester University. Community engagement is a vital aspect of its work. Ensuring each project leaves a lasting social legacy, whether that’s supporting people with barriers to employment, providing jobs, apprenticeships and work placements in the region.
Siemens
World leaders in designing and manufacturing digital and technology solutions.
Head office in South Manchester
Siemens employs up to 11,000 people in Great Britain and Ireland. Since 2019 Siemens flagship building at Didsbury, Manchester has been designated the company’s UK Head Office.
Siemens are a technology company focused on industry, infrastructure, transport, and healthcare. From more resource-efficient factories, resilient supply chains, and smarter buildings and grids, to sustainable transportation as well as advanced healthcare.
“Innovating ‘technology with purpose’ is at the core of Siemens’ global strategy, and we have long been a supporter of industry, innovation, skills and manufacturing in the North West.
The GMIoT will play an important role in helping people upskill and reskill in areas where employer demand is high.”
TalkTalk
National telecoms, TV and internet provider.
Headquarters in Salford Quays
TalkTalk are a company rooted in Greater Manchester and the only major internet service provider in the UK headquartered outside of the South East. With their HQ in Salford, TalkTalk believe that they are surrounded by talent and part of a vibrant tech scene – their move to Salford in 2018 was more than just geography. It has deeply influenced their core objectives; one of which is to make the North West the best place in England to live and work in technology.
TalkTalk are in the North West for the long haul and are committed to developing the tech talent of the future. They see their partnership with the GMIoT as crucial to their success. By working closely with the GMIoT, TalkTalk aim to provide students with real-world experiences to help set them up for success in future tech roles and retain great talent in Greater Manchester.
“As the fastest growing digital hub in Europe, the North West is a victim of its own success with unprecedented demand on the local technology talent pools.
It’s vital we broaden our reach to find and train the best people in our region – the GMIoT will be key to this. We’re excited to be a partner.”
Interested in becoming a partner?
Partner with us to meet your workforce needs and improve your business productivity and innovation. Support economic growth in Greater Manchester and nationally.