Following successful programmes in London and Bristol, reaching c.1000 young people, SKILL! launched in Manchester on Friday 6th July 2012 with a pilot workshop helping local students develop essential skills for the future.  Working in partnership with Aldermore Bank and DWF, two leading employers in Manchester, our first workshop engaged students from two schools in Salford.

Facilitated by young social entrepreneur Matt Kepple and ex-ITN newsreader Katie Ledger, the workshop saw students come into DWF’s offices in the centre of Manchester, spending the day with mentors from Aldermore and DWF.  Together they devised and pitched ideas for social enterprises, using concise presentations developed using Katie’s training.  Students presented to a panel of local entrepreneurs and business experts, including:

Andrew Gregory  Partner, DWF

Simon Healy  Director and Head of Savings, Aldermore Bank

Phil Jones  Deputy Managing Director, Brother UK

James Swift  CEO, Beyond Interactive

The feedback from students and mentors has been very positive and we plan to develop an annual programme of workshops in Manchester over the next few months, working in partnership with top employers in the area.  If you represent a Manchester school and would like to attend future SKILL! Workshops, please email us at info@visionpath.co.uk.