The Guinness Partnership is giving Manchester students the chance to develop life-changing skills.

The housing association’s funding has enabled the Skills Builder Partnership, a global not-for-profit organisation, to work with Co-op Academy Broadhurst in Williams Road, and Bridgelea Pupil Referral Unit in Bridgelea Road to deliver their programme.

Funding for the project was also supplied by Wates, one of the leading privately-owned construction, residential development, and property services businesses in the UK.

The scheme helps pupils learn essential skills alongside their academic achievements. These are highly transferable skills such as creativity, problem solving, and teamwork.

Teachers also benefit from training and resources, and the programme supports schools to train an in-house expert (a skills leader) who can continue the training once the programme ends.

Research released by the Skills Builder Partnership this month (March) shows:

• People with strong essential skills earn an average £3,900-£5,900 more a year.

• About 18 per cent of the working population has above average education level yet poor life outcomes because of their lack of access to skills building opportunities.

• Strong essential skills are highly related to high job and life satisfaction.

• Ninety-two per cent of people believe essential skills are important for securing job opportunities.

• Essential skills are strongly linked with increased wellbeing.

• Building these skills means you’re 52 per cent less likely to be out of work or education.

Alistair Smyth, The Guinness Partnership’s Director of  Social Investment, said: “At The Guinness Partnership we believe in investing in our communities, and creating valuable opportunities for young people to raise their potential.

“The Skills Builder Partnership is an amazing programme, helping young people create the foundations for successful and fulfilling lives and we’re really glad to be able to give them the funding they need.”

Stewart Reid, Regional Managing Director, Wates added: “Supporting the growth and development of communities through working with local businesses, schools and colleges is at the heart of everything we do and an important part of leaving a positive legacy on the communities in which we work.

“We are excited to be working with The Guinness Partnership in bringing these vital skills to the people that need them and we look forward to seeing the students develop as their studies continue.”

Co-op Academy Broadhurst and Bridgelea Pupil Referral Unit have more than double the number of students eligible for free school meals in the area, which is used as a measure of low parental income.

The project is now halfway through and has had some impressive results – for example 82 per cent of teachers reported that they felt more confident in teaching essential skills. And 88 per cent of skills leaders reported they felt prepared to deliver change within their school. The project is working with a total of 348 students and 40 teachers.

The schools have been helped to develop a strategy tailored to them for how they will improve skills education and all teachers have attended training sessions on teaching essential skills.

A teacher at Co-op Academy Broadhurst, said: “The best bits of the programme are the support from the associate and the many resources provided by Skills Builder. They are easy to use and implement.”