An academy in Manchester is playing a pivotal role in vastly improving the language skills of non-English speaking residents from all over the world.
The English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Academy, run by skills specialist Seetec Outsource, is aiming to decrease unemployment and create a course to help non-English speakers integrate into their communities and boost their job opportunities.
Since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, unemployment has risen to unprecedented highs – including a 2.6 percentage point increase in Manchester, bringing it up from 4.1% in March to 6.7% of the city’s working age population as of April 2020.
As well as increasing job opportunities, the course is keen to help its ESOL learners integrate into society, especially since lockdown has left many feeling isolated and alone; in turn affecting mental health.
The Academy said: “The deep-rooted values of the Skills Academy are aimed at empowering individuals across the community with the tools to achieve their work ambitions.”
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Lubna Abdelmoneim, mother of four, came from Sudan to Manchester last year and started the course in September.
She said: “I do this for job opportunities, but for my kids also, because I am learning here, now I have to keep up with them because my kids, they are learning fast.
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“I don’t want it to be like at some point different languages and I can’t understand what they are reading or what they are doing and then I can’t help them with their homework, so I would like to be able to help them. I want a better life.”
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As well as providing socially distanced face-to-face lessons during the week, the Academy has also given every ESOL learner a free tablet, with data and storage, as many may not have a home laptop or even a WiFi connection.
Tutor Nina Snelson said: “It’s about giving a bit more for them, so that they can learn more easily, rather than one; trying to learn a language, and then two; thinking I can’t do this because I can’t even see the screen.”
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Workbooks are also available to download for those without access to technology, and during the first national lockdown in March, Nina personally printed and posted workbooks to the learners in order to ensure that they were progressing.
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This course targets those who are aiming to improve themselves and their lives, and it is clear how important both the learning and the social interaction is for the people who attend.
Darko Cule, originally from Croatia, has lived in Ireland for the last four years, and moved to Manchester last year, where he found and lost a job in a short period of time due to the pandemic.
He said: “You don’t have anything to do you have to stay at home, and I don’t think this situation is good for anyone and I feel really good coming here every day Monday to Thursday, having a chat with my colleagues which I really like, jokes here, and it really helps.
“Especially because you learn something, English is not my first language you know and you can always improve and learn something new that will help you later.”
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Seetec Outsource
The lockdown caused issues for this course as it did across all educational settings, but the stakes were higher for these ESOL learners because many felt that their job prospects were hugely hindered until they had a stronger English Language base.
Michal Woszczyk is from Poland but has been a resident Mancunian for six years.
He realised his IT business was in trouble due to the pandemic and felt that he needed to improve his English skills in order to give his business the best chance to bounce back.
He said: “In the beginning it was very difficult for me to communicate with some customers because they did not feel very comfy when I spoke with them, but when I showed them how much experience I have, they trusted me. This is why I wanted to do this course.”
As well as his current IT business, Michal also has a history of tutoring in Poland in IT and graphic design, and he hopes to continue further down this career path upon the completion of the course.
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The community aspect of the courses on offer are essential; enabling people to sit in a room together and bond over a shared objective – which has a great impact on mental health but also helps to diminish prejudice and stigma.
Aiming to end stereotypes that surround many people who take this course was a key factor in why tutor Nina took this role.
She said: “As a British born individual I have a real problem with other individuals who have a negative opinion of people who can be considered an ESOL learner.
“They may be blamed for taking over certain aspects of the country etc, and it is something that I want to change.”
Nina encompasses everything that this course represents and every life-changing teacher that most of us have had, she is determined to help others make a positive change to their lives.
What is obvious about this course is that it is attended by people who are determined, intelligent and willing to learn in order to increase their chances at a better life.
Feature
Beat-Herder Festival 2026 – the wonderfully weird festival we can’t stop coming back to
Emily Johnson
Another weekend done in the magical, mystical world that is Beat-Herder.
For one weekend every year, a farm in Clitheroe transforms into what the organisers describe as “a place full of beats and barminess” – and honestly, they couldn’t have summed it up any better.
Big enough to keep you discovering something new all weekend, yet small enough that you’ll keep bumping into the same friendly faces, Beat-Herder strikes the balance perfectly.
Every corner has something different going on, every stage has its own personality, and every sound system is absolutely dialled in.
Where else can you go for a swim, get a tattoo, pop into church, visit Paris and dance until sunrise? No, we’re not describing a chaotic stag-do… we’re talking about Beat-Herder.
Every stage deserves a mention, but a few really stood out this year.
Julie’s Barn, a.k.a. ‘Gay Paris’, remains one of the festival’s best-kept secrets. Hidden away in the woods, it’s worth every wrong turn trying to find it.
A glowing dancefloor, disco balls hanging from the trees and a crowd that somehow never seems to leave. We even stumbled across a secret ‘Samurai Breaks SSBB’ set that had the place bouncing all the way through until sunrise.
Credit: The Manc Group
Over at Stumblefunk At The Factory, Breakage delivered one of the sets of the weekend. The bass rattled the roof, the crowd never stopped moving, and the whole place felt like it was about to lift off.
It’s also home to one of Beat-Herder’s many weird little surprises, with hidden missions and the chance to spy on other festival-goers. If you know, you know.
The Garage is another annual favourite. DJs squeezed into the front seat of a car while everyone else danced on the bonnet of old scrapped cars, bouncing to the bass that rattled from White Noise Audio’s soundsystem. It’s those ridiculous little details that make this festival unlike anywhere else.
Then there’s Beat-Herder’s Got Talent, which has become a non-negotiable part of our weekend. The winner earns a slot on the main stage, so every act gives it everything. This year’s line-up featured everything from incredible harmonica performances and live bands to rap duos.
But one contestant completely stole the show.
She walked on stage, admitted she wasn’t sure her talent was quite as impressive as everyone else’s, and the crowd fell silent. No instrument. No backing track. You could hear a pin drop. What on earth was this contestant about to do? And then she proceeded to fit her entire fist in her mouth.
If that doesn’t sum up Beat-Herder, we’re not sure what does. The wonderful woman didn’t win the contest unfortunately, but let’s hope she can get booked for next year, ey?
One of this year’s new additions was The Dub Tub, which quickly became one of our favourite discoveries. Artists like Woody Cook swapped high-energy sets for slower, dub-inspired sessions, creating the perfect place to reset before diving back into the madness.
Oh, and of course, in true Beat-Herder fashion, the DJs were performing in a bathtub, of course.
And speaking of madness… all the classics are still there. The famous tunnel leading to hidden stages, the weird and wonderful walkabout performers, the random discoveries you’ll never find on a map, the hidden swimming pool, fancy dress costumes, and the constant feeling that you’re about to stumble across something completely unexpected.
Massive credit has to go to everyone behind the scenes. From the organisers to the volunteers and crew, everything runs incredibly smoothly, despite how wonderfully chaotic it all feels. Beat-Herder, you’ve done it again; roll on 2027.
Meet the team that reimagined The Horse and Jockey into a gastropub masterpiece
Lydia Mastrolonardo
The Horse and Jockey is a historic neighbourhood pub that has forever been a cornerstone in the heart of Chorlton, with its iconic Tudor exterior and outdoor seating looking out onto The Green.
Since the team behind the well-known and loved The Black Friar and Leo + Roobs in Salford, headed by Managing Director Neil Burke and Executive Chef Ben Chaplin, reopened the pub in October 2025, we have since seen some significant changes.
Positioning themselves as Chorlton’s first-ever proper gastropub, they’ve expertly balanced maintaining the pub’s character and restoring the cosy indoors while catering for Manc foodies, with an ever-evolving menu consisting of fresh local produce as well as a wide selection of Joseph Holt award-winning beers.
Credit: Bigger Boat Hospitality
We’re not the only ones who have noticed the hard work these two have put in – the transformation has led to the Horse and Jockey being crowned as one of the best local boozers at the Pub and Bar Awards.
Today, we had a chance to talk with Ben, who is the mastermind behind their delicious dishes and makes it all possible…
For anyone who doesn’t know you, give us a little bit of background on your career as a chef thus far?
“I started in the kitchen when I was 15 and worked my way up through different kitchens. Ended up working for Aiden Byrne, who remains the youngest person ever to achieve a Michelin star at 22. I worked for him for about nine years, ran one of his pubs for him and helped develop Manchester House.”
“I then went off and worked as head chef at Australasia for two years and 20 Stories for another three years before meeting Neil. Together we opened The Black Friar in 2021, Leo + Roobs in 2024, now the Horse and Jockey and are 100% looking for more venues.”
How would you sum up the Manc food scene at the minute?
“Very diverse. Within the industry side of it, it’s difficult with a lot going on with VAT and wages, but there are some great venues doing some great food even just in Chorlton alone, and there is a lot of choice – I actually think it rivals London.”
This has become a staple of their annual calendar of events. See more from this year’s edition HERE.
We already know you’ve worked wonders bringing The Black Friar back to life and taking it beyond just a pub – what lessons have you taken from that experience to the Horse and Jockey?
“I think not just the Horse and Jockey but one of our values as a company for Bigger Boat is we are ‘yes people.’ So trying new things and not just saying no to something because we don’t want to do it, saying yes first and trying to find a way to achieve it.”
“It’s something that we don’t just do here, but we do it at the cafe, The Black Friar, and we’re going to do it going forward, opening more and more places.”
If you could describe how the approach is different between the two venues, what would you say?
“The spaces in The Black Friar allow us to do a lot more events; we obviously have a bigger outdoor area, so that leads to us being able to sell different areas for different events. We don’t have that as much here, and this is more of a neighbourhood, local pub, serving gastro-style food.
“The Black Friar we can go from events to weddings pretty seamlessly – we do a lot more there as there’s space for it and even more to come.”
They’ve even started doing a picnic basket offer. (Credit: The Manc Eats)
What is your favourite dish on the menu?
“We change the menu so often here (the Horse and Jockey) following the seasons, often changing a dish a week. However, right now my favourite is probably our lamb rump with a red pepper and harissa hummus with a hazelnut and sesame seed dhukka.”
And if you could sum up the food in three words, what would they be?
“Evolving, tasty and bold.”
These two truly know what they’re doing with these restorations, and we can’t wait to experience what else they take over in the future.
Don’t believe us? Go on down and try it for yourself.
You can read our full review of the food and drink from when they first reopened the gorgeous suburban, village-style spot down below.
Gemma Bradley -
16th December 2020 
