The new training programme that will ‘plug the skills gap’ for around 2000 Mancs
UK Skills Academy, a digital and cyber security training provider, has been awarded a lead partner role in the £2m Digital Skills for Growth & Productivity contract, to lead Greater Manchester's ESF Skills For Growth programme.
A new range of flexible training programmes from UK Skills Academy will give around 2,000 people in Greater Manchester access to free flexible training across a range of digital programmes
The brand-new programme will help to address a shortage in digital skills in the region.
It’s hoped it will ‘plug the skills gap’ that has been identified following the Covid-19 pandemic.
The three-year Skills For Growth programme will help thousands of individuals and Greater Manchester-based SMEs to thrive, moving their businesses online and learn new digital skills to improve productivity.
Credit: UK Skills Academy
The free training will be flexible, remote, online and will provide the required skills and knowledge to support growth and productivity, such as digital marketing for business, digital transformation for leaders and managers, cyber security practices for business and much more.
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They will help business leaders to move their services and products online, and help individuals to develop skills like data analysis, cyber security and digital marketing.
The two-strand programme will support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across the city-region.
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It’s been hailed as a ‘truly employer-led’ venture that will directly help local businesses to access the best, and most needed, resources.
Credit: UK Skills Academy
UK Skills Academy offers digital and cyber apprenticeships and training, with the learner at the heart of everything they do.
Their mission is to teach people the digital skills that are needed in modern work environments, working with businesses to design and implement apprenticeships.
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The academy can even offer businesses bespoke programmes to fit with employers’ needs.
Speaking of UK Skills Academy’s appointment as the lead partner of the Skills for Growth programme, its MD Gemma Beech said the academy is ‘delighted’.
She said: “Our own experience and high-quality digital provision, along with our selected partners, are the right fit to respond to the needs of Greater Manchester’s digital skills shortages.
“Employers have consistently reported that they need support in developing technical skills and that demand industry-wide is expected to keep on growing.
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“We have a wealth of experience, innovative ideas and proven success in this sector and are looking forward to welcoming our learners.”
To find out more about Digital Skills Growth & Productivity, or see what UK Skills Academy has to offer, visit uk-skillsacademy.co.uk or express an interest here and one of the team will be in touch https://forms.office.com/r/pWbX7xvLZh
Featured image: UK Skills Academy
Business
Manchester United named Premier League’s ‘most valuable’ club in Forbes’ 2023 ranking
Emily Sergeant
Manchester United has been named the most valuable club in the Premier League for 2023, according to an annual ranking by Forbes.
Every year, the business magazine is known for publishing a list of clubs within each sport that are considered to be of the most value, and ranks them from highest to lowest based off how much they’re worth – and, as you can imagine, the top 10 is usually made up of some of the most famous and well-known global franchises.
When it comes to football in 2023 though, according to Forbes, the “soccer pitch is filled with more green than ever”.
The world’s top 20 most valuable football teams have an average value of $2.89 billion in 2023, which is 14% higher than the year previous.
The soccer pitch is filled with more green than ever. Check out the methodology behind this year's list of the World's Most Valuable Soccer Teams: https://t.co/flo7x6Drx3pic.twitter.com/LXyc6UNBA5
With a current value of $6 billion, Manchester United has taken the number two spot on the global 2023 rankings, just behind Spanish superclub Real Madrid at $6.07 billion – making the Red Devils the most valuable club in the Premier League.
The rest of the top five is made up of Catalan giants Barcelona in third place with a value of $5.51 billion, fellow North West club Liverpool at number four with a value $5.29 billion, and rounded out by cross-town rivals Manchester City.
The Sky Blues have a current value of $4.99 billion, according to Forbes.
Top 10 Most Valuable Football Clubs 2023
Real Madrid – $6.07bn
Manchester United – $6bn
Barcelona – $5.51bn
Liverpool – $5.29bn
Manchester City – $4.99bn
Bayern Munich – $4.86bn
Paris St-Germain – $4.21bn
Chelsea – $3.1bn
Tottenham Hotspur – $2.8bn
Arsenal – $2.26bn
Manchester United named Premier League’s ‘most valuable’ club in Forbes’ 2023 ranking / Credit: Manchester United (via Facebook)
Other Premier League teams featuring in Forbes’ top 30 list of the most valuable for 2023 include London clubs West Ham and Crystal Palace, the North East’s Newcastle United, Midlands-based Aston Villa, rival Liverpool club Everton, and the recently-relegated Leicester City.
Manchester United has been named as the second most valuable football team in the world, despite what Forbes has called the ongoing “sale saga with seemingly no end in sight”.
United fans will know that the club’s controversial current owners, The Glazer family – who have owned the club since 2005 – are apparently asking for a world-record price to buy the team, which would mean a higher figure than the $6.05 billion that the US-based NFL team, Washington Commanders, sold for this past April.
The club has a current value of $6 billion / Credit: Manchester United (via Facebook)
At the moment, it’s thought that only two bidders – Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani of Qatar, and Sir Jim Radcliffe’s Ineos Group – submitted final bids to buy Manchester United before the club’s dealine on 28 April.
However, Finnish businessman Thomas Zilliacus notably tweeted that his bid for the club was still on the table.
So, long story short, who knows? It still all remains to be seen.
Featured Image – Ash Donelon & Manchester United (via Facebook)
Business
Nespresso opens new ‘experiential’ Trafford Centre store with free tastings, masterclasses, and more
Emily Sergeant
Nespresso has opened a brand-new “experiential boutique” store inside the Trafford Centre, and it all looks very fancy.
Designed to engage both existing and new Nespresso customers through a range of “unique and personalised experiences”, the new Trafford Centre store means Greater Manchester‘s community of coffee lovers now get an unrivalled access to the beloved brand’s wide range of blends, machines, and accessories.
Shoppers will get to “immerse themselves in the world of Nespresso” through a sophisticated ‘Coffee as an Art’ tasting and masterclass area – with state-of-the-art coffee machines, and customised latte art workshops.
You can also create your own coffee recipes using digital tutorials and Nespresso machines at the interactive ‘Taste & Discover’ area, where specialists will be on hand to help you explore the full Nespresso range, and offer one-on-one coffee learning, tasting, and machine demonstrations so you can better understand your taste preferences.
There’s even a ‘Nespresso & You’ personalisation area so you can get your own travel mugs engraved with a name or personal message.
Nespresso opens new ‘experiential’ Trafford Centre store / Credit: Supplied
The new Trafford Centre store is also big on sustainability.
As Nespresso capsules are made of 80% recycled aluminium, making them infinitely recyclable, and the company co-founded the UK’s first industry-wide coffee capsule recycling scheme back in 2021, the brand’s sustainable ethics have been continued with throughout the design new store.
Not only is the new store run on 100% renewable energy and features a dedicated customer capsule return and recycling area, but tabletops are also made with used coffee grounds and 100% Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified wood, and there’s also an AR-powered ‘Circularity’ area showing how capsules are recycled and given a second life.
“Our boutiques are designed to encourage and support coffee exploration, creating an elevated experience for customers [and] the brand-new opening of our latest boutique at the Trafford Centre creates a new and innovative way for shoppers to enjoy and understand more about their coffee,” explained Luke Horwath – Head of Retail at Nespresso UK & ROI.
“The digital resources as well as our expertly trained staff will enable customers to learn about Nespresso blends, recipes, brewing methods, and our commitment to sustainability.”
Shoppers can experience free coffee tastings, masterclasses, and so much more / Credit: Supplied
And to top it all off, in a bid to properly celebrate the start of summer, the new Trafford Centre store is the only place in the UK where you can get yourself an exclusive first look and taste of Nespresso’s new Summer Iced range ahead of the collection’s official release on 30 May.
If you fancy seeing what the new Nespresso store is all about, it’s located on the Upper Regent Crescent next to the Trafford Centre’s New Orleans entrance.
The Manc -
20th January 2022 
