4/04/2025
The Institute of Employability Professionals (IEP) and the Greater Manchester Learning Provider Network (GMLPN) are delighted to announce the renewal of their long-standing strategic partnership, reaffirming their commitment to raising professional standards, enhancing employability skills, and improving employment outcomes across Greater Manchester and beyond.
GMLPN is one of the largest provider networks in the country and is made up of over 140 Independent Training Providers, Further Education Colleges, Community Providers, Universities, Awarding Organisations, Local Authorities, and key sector partners, primarily located across Greater Manchester.
The network serves as a collaborative platform, bringing together diverse educational providers to enhance learning opportunities and outcomes throughout the region. Through collective efforts, GMLPN aims to support and advance the educational landscape, benefiting learners of all ages and backgrounds across Greater Manchester.
The IEP is the international membership body for employability professionals – the people who support others gain work, progress in work and retain work. We are dedicated to advancing the standards, quality and professionalisation of employability practice around the world. Our vision is ‘Employability Professionals Everywhere Are The Best They Can Be’.
As part of this renewed collaboration, both the IEP and GMLPN will develop and expand a framework of cooperation to support mutually beneficial projects and activities that aim to strengthen the employability sector by raising standards across employment support services and championing professional development for those delivering frontline employability support.
Chloe Ramsden, Partnership Manager, GMLPN said “We are delighted to renew our partnership with IEP. This collaboration represents a major step in enhancing the connection between our members and IEP, working together to improve standards, quality, and professionalism in employability practice. By joining forces, we aim to create even greater opportunities for knowledge-sharing, innovation, and continuous improvement, ensuring that employability practices evolve to meet the needs of both employers and individuals across Greater Manchester.
The partnership will see the IEP and GMLPN work together to achieve a range of objectives including:
- Maximising the potential for practical partnerships between our respective memberships, within a framework of high-quality standards that drives the professionalism of all employability support and enhances the skills and employment prospects of learners, trained and supported by GMLPN members
- Working together on strategic partnerships with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Education and Skills Funding Agency and DWP to raise the profile of our respective memberships, and to seek to influence both national and local commissioners of appropriate funding streams
- Seeking national joint representation on areas of mutual interest with GMCA, Department for Education, ESFA, DWP and the Institute for Apprenticeships
Scott Parkin FIEP, Group CEO of IEP said “We are delighted to continue our strong collaboration with GMLPN, an organisation that shares our vision for a high-performing, professional employability sector. Through this renewed partnership, we are expanding opportunities for knowledge exchange, innovation, and professional growth. By supporting GMLPN’s members with the latest research, training, and industry insights, we are collectively raising the bar for employability professionals and the people they serve.”
