Skills for Growth - SME Support is a fully funded, tailored service to help upskill your employees and improve business productivity.
Introducing MMCT
MMCT says “Quality training creates quality people”
Husband and wife team Mike and Gail Manning set up MMCT four years ago and have been growing organically ever since. Building on their firm belief that “Quality training creates quality people”, MMCT is a training provider offering various courses covering health and safety, wellbeing, management, and customer care. They have also adapted new ways to deliver their training online, offering several e-learning courses via systems such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom.
Testimonial
“When Philip from the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce first referred us to the Skills for Growth Network we were knee deep in ideas of where we would like to take MMCT Ltd, but it was a scary time, we were in the middle of a pandemic, our lounge was our office and I had just been made redundant, we had talked about my joining Mike for a while and we were determined that together, now was the time to take the next step.
We have found the advice, the direction and the support of everyone at Skills for Growth – SME Support invaluable, whether it was to bounce ideas off people, have some guidance as to our next steps, or help us to find solutions to any problems we encountered, the Skills for Growth team have been there for us at every point of our journey. They really have helped us in the last few months to grow our business and hone our skills. They pretty much do what they say on the tin! Also, as a special mention it really is about the people you meet along the way and the support we’ve received from Peter and Philip has been phenomenal. We think of both Philip and Peter as friends.”
-Gail and Mike Manning
MMCT came to us as a referral from Philip Murphy at the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, seeking advice on planning for 2021, when to take on two new staff members, and taking on premises as they currently trade from home. Throughout their ongoing collaboration with us, they will also be exploring other Growth Company and Business Growth Hub resources, such as Access to Finance and Aspire Recruitment.
MMCT’s first milestone was to launch their website on January 18th 2020, which you can view here, from which point they would be focusing on sourcing an office location to work from, which they have now found in Prestwich. In conjunction with their Skills Coach Philip Murphy and our Apprenticeship Specialist Suzanne McNicholas, the pair are looking to take on two new members of staff, including an Administrator and Salesperson. They have completed a Kickstart Scheme application and will look to apprenticeships as a next step in the hiring process. “We at MMCT Ltd see 2021 as our year, pushing forward and achieving a thriving Training Provider business”, say Mike Manning.
The pair have been working closely with Business Change Specialist Peter Craen, to plan their next steps carefully, to ensure maximum growth with minimum risk, such as upskilling to offer new services. Craen says, “Mike and Gail are so passionate about their business. Their lounge, which is their office, is covered with flip chart paper detailing aspirations, goals, and business-related material. They launched a new website on 18th January 2021, and I want to work with them over the coming 26 weeks to make 2021 a success for them. Their USP is passion and knowledge!”
Gail Manning says “Working with the dedicated team at Skills for Growth – SME Support allowed us to not only pin point our goals for 2021 but to recognise that we can achieve them. We couldn’t ask for better support and we are already reaping the benefits of our association with this great team as we move into our new Prestwich offices.”
We’re proud to be working with MMCT over the next 26 weeks as they embark on their #SkillsRevolution.
Additional resources
For training providers looking to extend their offering to SME’s visit www.gmskillsmap.co.uk or read the brochure here
The Growth Company is an award-winning, not-for-profit social enterprise with a mission to enable growth, create jobs and improve lives. We provide individuals and businesses with a wide range of services that improve employment, skills, investment and enterprise for the benefit of all, and have been working in the Greater Manchester city region for more than 30 years.
This project receives funding from the European Social Fund as part of the 2014-2020 European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme in England.
The Department for Work and Pensions is the Managing Authority for the England European Social Fund programme.
Established by the European Union, the European Social Fund helps local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support skills development, employment and job creation, social inclusion and local community regenerations. For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/european-growth-funding.
About the author
Skills for Growth - SME Support