Greater Manchester Employer Coalition Annual Award Finalists Short Listed

Jobcentre Plus and the Learning and Skills Council and jointly sponsoring the Innovation and Excellence Employer of the Year award at the Greater Manchester Employer Coalition (GMEC) Awards on Wednesday 11 June 2008 at The Midland Hotel in Manchester.

Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council, First Bus UK and The Village Hotel are among the 21 employers who have been shortlisted for the GMEC’s fourth annual awards.

Jobcentre Plus, through its sponsorship of the award, is proud to recognise businesses that go that extra mile to make a positive difference to the local community.  

The GMEC Awards are an established event which celebrates employers who are making a real difference to the lives of local people, especially through labour market interventions.

The glamorous dinner showcases businesses, individuals and other organisations that are leading the way in breaking down barriers to work and investing in their most valuable asset, their workforce.

Winners in all categories except Business Champion of the Year will be announced on the evening of the Awards.

The 2008 finalists under each Award category are:

Large Employer of the Year
Vertex, The co-operative, Manchester City Council

Small and Medium-Sized Employer of the Year
George Jones and Son (Contractors) Ltd, Freemont R&R, Taylors

Promoting Equality of Opportunity Employer of the Year
The Marriott Group, Salix Homes, BBC

Connecting to Communities Employer of the Year
The Manchester Museum, Royal Mail, PricewaterhouseCoopers

Reducing Re-Offending Employer of the Year
Timpsons, GM Procure, Hughes Brothers Building and Joinery Ltd

Innovation and Excellence Employer of the Year
Stockport MBC, First UK Bus, The Village Hotel

Individual of the Year
Tracey Banner, Stuart Harding, Richard Mechen

All winners will be announced on the evening of the Awards. In addition, a short film will congratulate the GMEC 2008 Business Champion of the Year- Noel Ruane of Freemont R&R. Noel was selected from a shortlist of 15 members of the Business Community who were also nominated for this award.

Director of GMEC, Vicki Godfrey said: “Each year we are amazed by the commitment, support and effort made by employers in the area to help support local people gain sustainable employment. These Awards are important to the entire employment and skills sector, as they are a celebration of the vital role of employers both as customers of its service and as a partner. The difference even one employer makes can have a tremendous effect on the lives of local people.”

Sponsors for this year’s event are A4e, BBC, GMEC, GM Procure, HM Prison Service (HMPS), Jobcentre Plus (JCP), Learning and Skills Council (LSC), Manchester Enterprises, National Offender Management Service (NOMS), The co-operative, and TNG.