GM Business Growth Hub Skills Development Service

The SDS Skills Development Service (SDS) programme is funded by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and seeks to boost workforce and lifelong skills for Greater Manchester's individuals, volunteers and organisations, thanks to fully funded training and dedicated business support. The GM BGH People team are looking for partners to create quality referrals to the programme to ensure as many GM based organisations and residents are able to take advantage of the funding as possible.

A successful partner will be responsible for creating referrals to GM BGH that have been qualified, following discussion with the business and the business must have verified and given approval for referral.

Organisations currently contracted to deliver Employer Engagement & Essential Work Skills services are not eligible to apply for this opportunity, as doing so would not be consistent with the terms and intent of the existing contractual arrangements.

Aims / Benefits of the programme for participating client Organisations:

• Access to a dedicated Organisational Development Specialist

• Completion of a strategic organisational level skills diagnostic

• Option for employees across the business to access an Individual Skills Review

• Access to a Training & Development Summary for the organisation

• Impartial brokerage to skills opportunities across the whole of the skills ecosystem

• Exclusive access to a funding pot of £2.8 million for the delivery of essential workplace skills inclusive of English, Match, Digital and ESOL (English for Speaker of Other Languages).

To apply for this tender opportunity, please register as a supplier on the Panacea Supplier Platform at the following web address: https://app.panacea-software.com/growth

Once you have accessed the site, to view the opportunity you need to navigate to 'Register Interest', click the 'Participate' Button, then navigate to 'My Questionnaires' where you will be able to download the documents. Your tender submission must be made on the Panacea Portal. Please ensure ALL the relevant tender documents are included within the 'Response' section of the Questionnaire. You can add these individually or utilise a Zip folder to submit your response.

Once uploaded, this will allow you to 'Submit' your bid.

The documents contain instructions and information for your tender, including specification of requirements, and the key assessment and evaluation criteria that will be used to assess offers.

The deadline for submission of the required documents is at 13:00pm 7th November 2025