Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, joined school pupils, teachers and apprentices at Rayner Stephens High School in Dukinfield for a special event to unveil Beeline, which is available now via the Greater Manchester Apprenticeships and Careers Service (GMACS) website.
Named after the worker bee that embodies the Greater Manchester spirit, Beeline is the first of many resources being developed as an open part of the Greater Manchester Baccalaureate (MBacc) – the city region’s pioneering 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 is a ground-breaking tool to give young people real-time information on the jobs available in the MBacc gateways sectors, alongside guidance on the most relevant subjects, courses and qualifications on offer at 14, 16 and 18. The tool links these career suggestions directly to current vacancies through the Adzuna jobs website, along with salary details, helping students understand where a technical education can take them and visualise potential career paths in various sectors.
Recent findings from a national youth census revealed that just over half (55%) of young people are confident they will progress into a good job, while 45% could benefit from additional support. Beeline is designed to bridge this gap, providing young people with a clearer sense of career opportunities and boosting their confidence in their future prospects.
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said:
“For too long, young people who want to pursue a technical education have been held back by poor, outdated careers advice. With Beeline, we are putting that right. This new tool gives young people a window on the exciting range of jobs available right now here in Greater Manchester.
“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. Beeline is there to help young people as they start planning for their future.
“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.
“And if their dream job is in a different part of the city region, we won’t let that hold them back. All 16 to 18 years can access free bus travel on the Bee Network by signing up for the Our Pass scheme.”
The way Beeline was built reflects Greater Manchester’s strong links with local employers. The global creative company WPP provided the technical expertise needed to develop the tool, offering their time for free. WPP also sit on GMCA’s Employer Integration Board, which has helped shape the MBacc along with local education leaders and young people. This collaboration underscores Greater Manchester’s commitment to working with industry to shape the future of technical education and ensure young people are connected to the opportunities within the city region. Workplace experience is also built into the MBacc thanks to a partnership with the Careers and Enterprise company.
Headteacher Martin Davies from Rayner Stephens High School highlighted the benefits to students:
“The Manchester Baccalaureate (MBacc) is an innovative educational initiative designed to transform learning for young people in Greater Manchester. By offering a more inclusive curriculum, the MBacc equips students with both academic and practical skills essential for the modern job market. It emphasizes 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. A powerful tool for social mobility, the MBacc ensures that all students, regardless of background, have access to the opportunities they need to succeed, fostering a more prosperous and inclusive future.
“I am incredibly proud that Rayner Stephens High School has been able to play 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. 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.”
Young people have already started exploring Beeline, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive.
Greater Manchester Lead for Technical Education and Skills, Cllr Eamonn O’Brien, said:
“Beeline is a major step forward in making careers advice more relevant and more accessible. By showing young people the real jobs that exist right here in Greater Manchester, as well as the qualifications and routes through education they can take to get there, we’re giving them confidence in their future. This is about ensuring every young person, regardless of the route they take, has the tools they need to succeed.”
The creation of Beeline is part of a broader ambition for Greater Manchester to use its devolved power and funding to pioneer a new approach to technical education. With the MBacc and Beeline, the city region is leading efforts to shape technical education so it meets the needs of local employers and boosts Greater Manchester’s economic growth.
For schools and colleges interested in integrating Beeline into their career guidance programmes visit: https://gmacs.co.uk/beeline/
