16 – 18 years
Take your careers research to the next level with the information on GMACS.
Explore the MBacc gateway resources
The Greater Manchester Baccalaureate could help you discover your pathway to a job in Greater Manchester. Explore the resources by clicking below.
Discover the top industries in Greater Manchester
Find out which sectors in GM are growing quickly, research the top employers, and see which pathways you could take to start your career. There’s also some information about the top jobs in each sector.
Find out more about education and training
If you’re thinking about staying in education or you’d like to know more about the training courses you could take, research your options on GMACS.
Use Xello to explore your options
Xello is a tool that you can use to research your career and education options and build your own career profile. It’s available for free to every state high school and college in Greater Manchester, so you’ll need to get access through your college. Once you’ve got access, you can use it to explore your career options and think about what you’d like to do.
Get started with opportunities and support
Greater Manchester has lots of opportunities for you to experience working life or volunteer with a local organisation to get valuable skills. Plus, there’s loads of support you can access – from help with interview prep to free skills boosters. See some opportunities specifically for your age group below.
Ignition Summer School 2025 – University of Salford
From the 9th-11th July 2025 Year 12 students from across Greater Manchester are invited to become a Salford engineering student, becoming part of a race team and constructing a remote-controlled car all the way from concept design through to physical construction....
Call for Participants: Help Test FT FLIC’s New Digital Financial Education Resource
Call for Participants: Help Test FT FLIC’s New Digital Financial Education Resource The Financial Literacy & Inclusion Campaign (FT FLIC), the Financial Times charity, is dedicated to alleviating poverty among young people through financial education. FT FLIC...
Free Home Education Resources from Youth Employment UK
Explore these free online courses designed for home educated young people. They’ve been developed by Youth Employment UK specifically for young people who are home educated. These courses don’t assume you are studying in school, or studying for set subjects or...
Our Pass, more than just a bus pass…
If you’re aged 16-18 in GM, you could get Our Pass, a membership scheme for young people that gives you free bus travel, discounted tram travel, and exclusive discounts and offers.
Discover exciting careers events in your community
There’s lots of events on offer near you, whether you want to meet prospective employers, learn more about further education or get mentoring and other support. See events tailored for your age group here or see what’s happening in your area.
Greater Manchester’s Festival of Technical Education
Date: 30/06/2025
Time: 30th June - 11th July
Suitable for: Anyone interested in technical education
The Greater Manchester Festival of Technical Education starts in June 2025! Join us for two weeks of virtual and in-person events celebrating student achievements in technical education.
Marple Sixth Form College New Student Welcome Day
Date: 01/07/2025
Time: 8am-3pm
Suitable for: Year 11 Students
Join Marple Sixth Form College for a fun, interactive taster day – meet new friends, explore courses, and feel part of the college community!
Trafford College New Student Welcome Day
Date: 01/07/2025
Time: All Day
Suitable for: Year 11 students
Join Trafford College for a fun, interactive taster day – meet new friends, explore the courses, and feel part of the college community!
Hear from people like you on our blog
Our blog has posts and articles from young people sharing their experiences. We also have expert advice from people already working in industry.
How Could I Work With Artificial Intelligence? Careers in Technology
It’s no secret that artificial intelligence, or AI, is changing the world that we live in. That includes the job market. Many people are worried that artificial intelligence could affect their job security or job prospects. With the rapid changes in technology, we are...
The GMACS Part Time Job Guide Part 2: Balancing Work and Study
Welcome back to the GMACS part time job guide! In part 2, we will explore the challenges that come with working whilst studying full time. Expect advice on how to manage the new challenges that come with trying to juggle all these new commitments. Plus, some thoughts...
The GMACS Part-Time Job Guide Part 1: How to Find Part-Time Work
Welcome to the first part of our two-part guide all about part time jobs. In this guide, we’ll help you explore all your options as you start to navigate the world of work. In the first part, we’ll cover how you go about finding part time work. Let’s dig in!Working,...
Read about real people’s careers
You can learn a lot from reading about other people’s experiences in the workplace and the career options they chose to get there. Explore some examples below.
