Greater Manchester Higher

What Greater Manchester Higher does

Greater Manchester Higher is a collaborative outreach partnership of 19 higher education and further education providers across Greater Manchester, launched in 2017 and led by Manchester Metropolitan University. It delivers the Office for Students (OfS) Uni Connect programme, providing impartial information, advice, and guidance to help young people — particularly those from under-represented groups such as care experienced learners, young carers, disabled learners, and first-generation students — make informed choices about higher education. The programme operates free of charge to participants.

Its service portfolio includes downloadable guide publications (e.g. 'Your Guide to Higher Education', UniTasterDays guides for students, parents and teachers, a care experienced learner guide, a jargon buster, and Informed Choices), online tools (a degree discovery course search), and a structured mentoring scheme called Go for Growth. Outreach is delivered through Hub Managers who maintain school relationships, Graduate Advisers who provide in-school programmes, and Outreach Officers based at partner institutions who deliver campus-based activities including subject masterclasses, summer schools, mentoring, and campus visits.

The programme is funded by the Office for Students through the Uni Connect initiative and does not generate commercial revenue; all activities are provided free to young people, schools, and colleges. Marketing and distribution operate across a website (gmhigher.ac.uk), social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram), online webinars for parents/carers, and direct in-school engagement. Cumulative reach since launch includes 350,000+ learners engaged, 6,700+ activities delivered, and 200+ schools and colleges partnered with.

Name

Greater Manchester Higher

Legal name

Greater Manchester Higher

Website

https://gmhigher.ac.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Greater Manchester Higher is a government-funded collaborative partnership of 19 universities and further education colleges, led by Manchester Metropolitan University, delivering the OfS Uni Connect programme to provide free higher education outreach and guidance to young people across Greater Manchester.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education Outreach Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Accelerated Learning & Grade Advancement Programs (EDAJAGAE)

Keywords

• Higher education outreach
• Widening participation
• University guidance services
• Student mentoring programme
• Further education information

Headquarters

HQ city

Manchester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Greater Manchester Higher is a Government-funded programme under the Office for Students (OfS) Uni Connect Programme. Activities are provided free of charge to young people, schools, and colleges.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Greater Manchester Higher is a collaborative network of universities and further education colleges that delivers impartial information, advice, and guidance to help young people make informed choices about higher education. It runs free outreach activities including subject masterclasses, mentoring programmes, summer schools, campus visits, and workshops, alongside downloadable guides and online tools such as a degree search and jargon buster. The programme is funded by the UK government through the Office for Students (OfS) Uni Connect programme and targets under-represented groups in Greater Manchester.

Product overview

Greater Manchester Higher is a collaborative network of higher education providers offering an impartial programme of outreach activities, information resources, and guidance services designed to help young people explore routes into higher education and make informed choices about their future. The core offering consists of downloadable guide publications (including 'Your Guide to Higher Education', guides for care experienced learners, and UniTasterDays guides for students, parents and teachers), outreach programme activities (subject masterclasses, mentoring, summer schools, campus visits), and online tools (degree discovery, jargon buster). The network is led by Manchester Metropolitan University and operates through Hub Managers, Graduate Advisers, and Outreach Officers across partner institutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Go for Growth Mentoring Programme

Quantifiable outcome

• 350,000+ learners engaged since 2017
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Manchester Metropolitan UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead institution of the Greater Manchester Higher partnership. Hosts the website and central team, overseeing operational delivery and governance. Responsible for meeting Office for Students requirements.
• The University of ManchestercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner university contributing to the collaborative outreach programme. Provides campus facilities and participates in activity delivery.
• University of SalfordcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner university contributing to the collaborative outreach programme. Provides campus facilities and participates in activity delivery.
• University of BoltoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner university contributing to the collaborative outreach programme. Also known as University of Greater Manchester.
• Office for Students (OfS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment regulator for higher education in England. Funds and governs the Uni Connect programme which GM Higher delivers, aiming to increase young people from under-represented groups entering higher education.
• Ashton Sixth Form CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFurther education partner in the collaborative network contributing to outreach delivery.
• Bolton CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFurther education partner in the collaborative network contributing to outreach delivery.
• Bury CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFurther education partner in the collaborative network contributing to outreach delivery.
• FutureworkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFurther education partner in the collaborative network contributing to outreach delivery.
• Holy Cross CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFurther education partner in the collaborative network contributing to outreach delivery.
• Hopwood Hall CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFurther education partner in the collaborative network contributing to outreach delivery.
• University Campus OldhamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFurther education partner in the collaborative network contributing to outreach delivery.
• Royal Northern College of MusiccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecialist higher education partner in the collaborative network contributing to outreach delivery.
• Salford City CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFurther education partner in the collaborative network contributing to outreach delivery.
• Stockport CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFurther education partner in the collaborative network contributing to outreach delivery.
• Tameside CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFurther education partner in the collaborative network contributing to outreach delivery.
• UCEN ManchestercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFurther education partner in the collaborative network contributing to outreach delivery.
• UA92coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecialist higher education partner in the collaborative network contributing to outreach delivery.
• Wigan and Leigh CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFurther education partner in the collaborative network contributing to outreach delivery.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Realising Opportunities: A consortium of leading UK universities offering a programme to support students from underrepresented backgrounds to access competitive universities. Directly comparable as a collaborative HE access programme with multiple HEI partners targeting similar learners.
• Sutton Trust: A UK foundation focused on improving social mobility through education. Directly comparable as it funds and runs programmes to widen access to leading universities for low-income and underrepresented students, with similar mission and target demographic.
• The Brilliant Club: A UK charity that places PhD students in schools to support underrepresented students' progression to leading universities. Directly comparable as a widening participation charity targeting the same outcome (HE access for underrepresented groups) with similar in-school engagement model.
• Into University: A UK educational charity running local learning centres supporting young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to progress to higher education. Directly comparable as an HE access charity with similar mission, target audience, and focus on underrepresented groups.
• Go Higher West Midlands: A Uni Connect partnership operating in the West Midlands region, delivering the same OfS-funded outreach programme to support HE access for underrepresented students. Directly comparable as a sister partnership in the national Uni Connect network with equivalent funding model, structure, and target audience.
• Lancashire Uni Connect Partnership: A Uni Connect partnership covering Lancashire, delivering equivalent outreach activities and partnerships with regional HEIs and schools to increase HE participation among underrepresented groups. Directly comparable as another regional Uni Connect partnership in the North West.
• Yorkshire and the Humber Uni Connect Partnership: A Uni Connect partnership serving Yorkshire and the Humber, providing equivalent outreach and progression support to underrepresented learners, with similar institutional partnerships, funding structure, and operational model.

Others

• NEON (National Education Opportunities Network): A sector network supporting HE access and widening participation professionals across the UK. Comparable as a related ecosystem organisation operating in the same widening participation space, though it functions as a professional network rather than a direct outreach delivery peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/GM_Higher
• Facebookfacebook.com/GreaterMcrHigher
• Instagraminstagram.com/gm_higher
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/greater-manchester-higher

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Greater Manchester Higher