News

HIP hip hooray, for Greater Manchester employment prospects

5 Feb 2025

The achievements of the Health, Independence and Progression (HIP) pilot programme were celebrated at an event hosted by Ingeus on Friday 31st January. Over 80 senior government officials, local councils, employability professionals, learning providers and community partners gathered at the Friend’s Meeting House in Manchester.

Delivered by the InWorkGM partnership, led by Ingeus, with support from the Community Investment Fund, the HIP pilot ran in Bury, Manchester, Rochdale, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan from April to September 2024. Designed to enhance the life and employability skills of people who are long-term unemployed and living with a health condition or disability, HIP involved a week-long course of workshops delivered by local businesses and community partners.

Participants from the Working Well: Work and Health Programme and Working Well: Pioneer took part and attended workshops on a variety of subjects including cooking, gardening, DIY, health and fitness, and mindfulness, as well as on practical skills such as fork-lift truck driving.  All workshops enabled participants to develop their team-building and communication skills, and boost their confidence.

The programme demonstrated the positive impact of local partnerships and collaborating to support community needs.

Morgan Frost, Programme Manager in the Inclusive Employment team at GMCA praised the pilot's success, stating, "The HIP programme has shown how community collaboration can transform lives and enhance employment prospects for people across Greater Manchester, and is a good example of how the family of Working Well services in GM continue to support and improve the lives of residents.”

Nicola Wood, Head of Delivery for Ingeus, said “Forging relationships with community partners is key to maximising the impact of current and future employability programmes in Greater Manchester. By working together, we are making a positive difference to the lives of many, fostering economic prosperity and community growth.”