Working Well: Support to Succeed Helps Greater Manchester Residents Overcome Barriers to Work

• Delivered by the Growth Company, Working Well: Support to Succeed helps economically inactive people in Greater Manchester overcome barriers to work.
• The programme provides tailored interventions that help residents build skills and confidence and get work ready.
• Over the past two years, it has led to thousands of positive outcomes, including job starts.

Over the past two years, Working Well: Support to Succeed has helped Greater Manchester residents from different backgrounds who face a wide range of barriers to work.

The programme focuses on improving people’s overall wellbeing as they take the next step in their life.

According to the recent ‘Greater Manchester Labour Market Insights’ pack for autumn/winter 2025, around 444,800 of the region’s working age population are economically inactive – another way of saying that they’re not in work and not actively looking to be so. 

This group includes students, retirees, and people with a long-term illness or disability. Of the 444,800, the report suggests that 79,600 would like a job.

We aim to help these seldom-heard people boost their skills and confidence so they can work towards sustainable employment. To this end, we make sure they are heard, understood, and supported.

Big results

Since January 2024, we have engaged with 6,780 inactive participants, supporting them with over 15,578 interventions.

‘Interventions’ is our catch-all term, covering the different ways we directly support people, from training courses and financial advice to helping them access opportunities in their community.

So far, we’ve provided 409 different distinct interventions.

Interventions lead to outcomes – the results of our client’s hard work. An outcome can be many things, including a job start, a new volunteering role, or a reduction in barriers to work.

We’re proud to have supported people towards 27,838 outcomes because through the Support to Succeed programme. 693 of these outcomes have been job starts, with three in four coming from our inactive caseload.

Adam’s story

Adam was in a difficult place when he first walked into the Support to Succeed offices.

Recently homeless and out of work, he had no clear direction – other than knowing he wanted a job – and didn’t know where to turn.

Over the next eight weeks, Adam worked closely with our team. Through regular conversations, we helped him rebuild his confidence and navigate the various challenges he faced. With gentle encouragement, he connected with the right services for housing and health support.

Step by step, Adam began to regain control of his life. He secured safe accommodation, started addressing his health needs, and began to see a future for himself again. His determination, combined with consistent support, helped him move forward.

Now, Adam is in a much stronger position. He’s settled into his new home, his health has improved, and he’s preparing to start work again. His journey is a powerful reminder that, with the right support and belief in oneself, even the most difficult situations can change.

Reflecting on his experience, Adam said: "Thanks to Support to Succeed, my life is finally moving in the right direction. I can’t thank the team enough for what they’ve done.

“I now have a roof over my head in a lovely community, and work is just days away.”

The Growth Company

The Growth Company is an award-winning social enterprise with a 35-year history of enabling growth, creating jobs, and improving lives. We help people and businesses to develop, grow, and succeed through a range of employment, skills, and business support services. We provide employment, justice, and health services across the North of England and beyond.

Contact us today to find out more.

Working Well: Support to Succeed is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The city-region's allocation, managed by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and delivered by The Growth Company, will provide support for up to 8,872 residents between January 2024 and March 2026.