Hundreds More Young People in Greater Manchester to Start Careers in Health and Care Thanks to New Funding
Hundreds more young people across Greater Manchester will soon get the chance to start their career in health and care thanks to new national funding.
NHS Greater Manchester, working with Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, has been awarded £184,000 from the Department for Education’s Industrial Placement Coordinator (IPCO) scheme. We are one of just seven areas in the country to receive this funding.
Creating More T Level Industry Placements
The funding will create a new coordinator role to set up and support T Level industry placements across all 10 Greater Manchester boroughs. These placements give 16–19-year-olds practical experience in health and care careers – including:
-
Clinical roles such as nursing, maternity, pharmacy, and therapies
-
Non-clinical roles such as finance, estates, digital, and administration
This project supports the Greater Manchester Strategy, which aims to make the city-region fairer, greener, and more prosperous, giving everyone the chance to reach their full potential. It also links to the Manchester Baccalaureate (MBacc) – a local plan to give technical qualifications, like T Levels, the same recognition and value as academic routes such as A levels.
Strong T Level Experience in Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester already has strong experience with T Levels. NHS organisations here work with every local further education college and have built strong partnerships with care providers. Many placements are designed to give students a broad experience by working in:
-
Hospitals
-
Community placements
-
Social care settings
Across the city-region, health and care partners support over 300 T Level placements each year, with many students moving straight into jobs or further training.
Long-Term Impact of the Funding
This funding will support the programme for 2.5 years, helping more young people access high-quality, hands-on placements and gain meaningful experience.
The announcement coincides with T Level results day on Thursday, opening new doors for students aiming to progress into health and care careers.
Sue Howard, Head of Workforce Development at NHS Greater Manchester, said:
“We welcome this funding as it will unlock opportunities for young people and help build a strong local workforce, building on the strong work we’ve already done in this space. High-quality placements help learners grow in confidence and skills, while also helping employers find and develop future staff.”
By creating more high-quality placements and reaching a wider range of young people, this programme will help students develop the skills, experience, and confidence to start a career in health and care. It will also give Greater Manchester the workforce it needs for the future.
More information about the T Levels funding guide 2025 to 2026
