THE Mayor of Greater Manchester has unveiled a new digital tool for young people at a secondary school in Dukinfield.
Andy Burnham was at Rayner Stephens High School to introduce Beeline – named after the worker bee that embodies the Greater Manchester spirit.
The online tool is now available via the Greater Manchester Apprenticeships and Careers Service website and is the first in a series of resources being developed as part of the Greater Manchester Baccalaureate (MBacc) – an alternative to the university route.
Drawing on local labour market data, the MBacc is a technical education route made up of seven ‘gateways’ – each linked to a sector which is growing in the Greater Manchester economy.
Beeline gives young people real-time information on the jobs available in the MBacc gateways sectors, alongside guidance on the most relevant courses, subjects and qualifications for 14, 16 and 18-year-olds.
The tool links career suggestions directly to current vacancies through the Adzuna jobs website, along with salary details, to help students visualise potential career paths through a technical education.
The school in Yew Tree Lane was chosen to host the event – attended by school pupils, teachers and apprentices last Friday (September 20) – as it is seen to have played a key role in the development and support of the Greater Manchester Baccalaureate.
“At Rayner Stephens, we have a commitment to ensuring students gain the skills and knowledge needed for modern careers,” said headteacher Martin Davies.
“I am proud of our involvement in helping to shape a brighter future for education in Greater Manchester and the students of Stamford Park Trust.”
Highlighting the benefits to students, Mr Davies added: “By offering a more inclusive curriculum, the MBacc equips students with both academic and practical skills essential for the modern job market.
“It emphasises digital literacy, vocational training, and subjects tailored to the growth sectors of Greater Manchester, preparing students for high-demand sectors such as technology, healthcare and manufacturing.”
Recent findings from a national youth census revealed that 55 per cent of young people are confident they will progress into a good job, while 45 per cent could benefit from additional support.
Mr Burnham said Beeline is designed to bridge this gap and boost young people’s confidence in their future prospects.
“For too long, young people who want to pursue a technical education have been held back by poor, outdated careers advice,” the Mayor admitted.
“Talking to young people as we developed the MBacc, it was clear we needed something to help them visualise the jobs and careers available to them – and, crucially, how much they pay.
“The Greater Manchester economy is booming – growth and productivity here are higher than the UK average. We want all our young people to share in that success story and Beeline will give them a clear line of sight to the high-quality jobs Greater Manchester has to offer.”
More information about Beeline can be found at https://gmacs.co.uk/beeline/