The ability to collaborate, communicate, and build trust within a team has been shown to drive success in an organisation. That’s why organisations across Greater Manchester are turning to skills development not just to improve performance, but to strengthen team dynamics.
Why Skills Development Builds Better Teams
When teams learn together, they grow together. Whether it’s brushing up on digital tools, improving communication, or developing leadership skills, shared learning experiences help teams:
- Understand each other’s strengths
- Communicate more clearly
- Build trust and shared purpose
“Working with the Skills for Growth service has been very beneficial for us as a museum. It helped us think about our team’s strengths, find areas for growth, and most importantly, take steps toward creating a more confident and skilled workforce. It has made a real difference in our daily operations.”
- Museum of Illusions Manchester
Breaking Down Silos, Building Up Agility
One of the biggest barriers to collaboration? Silos. When departments don’t talk, innovation stalls. Skills development helps break those walls down by encouraging cross-functional learning, bringing people together from different parts of the business to learn, share, and solve problems as a team.
This kind of agility is especially valuable in fast-changing environments, where adaptability is key.
3 Ways to Use Skills Development to Strengthen Your Team
1. Start with a Skills Audit
Before investing in training, take stock of your team’s current capabilities. A skills audit helps you identify gaps, strengths, and opportunities for growth. You can do this through surveys, one-to-one conversations, or performance reviews. Focus on both technical and soft skills, and don’t forget to ask your team what they want to learn. This builds buy-in and ensures development aligns with individual aspirations and business needs.
Not sure where to begin? The GM Business Growth Hub offers a free audit to help you identify skills gaps and opportunities. It’s a great way to get a clear picture of where your team is—and where they could go.
2. Use the GM Skills Map
The GM Skills Map is a free, easy-to-use tool that connects employers and individuals to training opportunities across Greater Manchester. Whether you're looking to upskill in Digital, Maths, English, or ESOL, the platform helps you find local providers, courses, and support tailored to your sector. It’s ideal for planning structured development pathways and responding to workforce challenges with real-time solutions.
With over 280 Greater Manchester businesses supported so far, we’ve used the GM Skills Map to match organisations with tailored, fully funded training. The platform’s Skills Development filter makes it easy to find the right courses and improve the user experience.
3. Make It Work for Your Team
Skills development isn’t one-size-fits-all. Tailor learning to your team’s working style — whether that’s on-the-job training, short courses, mentoring, or flexible online modules. Encourage peer learning and celebrate progress to keep motivation high. Most importantly, link training to real outcomes: promotions, new responsibilities, or improved performance. When people see the impact, they stay engaged.
Support from GM Business Growth Hub
“The support we’ve received from the skills coach within the Business Growth Hub has been exceptional. Not only did they carry out an audit to identify the skills gaps within our organisation, but they’ve also identified a range of affordable and fully funded courses to fill those gaps. The additional training received has upskilled our employees and made them more confident in their roles, while allowing us to help with their career progression. It shows our team how we are investing in them and their future, which helps with staff retention and job satisfaction.”
- Rob Corcoran, Director, The Revenue Club
The GM Business Growth Hub’s Skills Development service offers fully funded, tailored training to help Greater Manchester organisations and individuals build stronger, more connected teams. Whether your team needs support with digital tools, interpersonal skills or communications, the programme is designed to fit around your operations and deliver real impact.
If you're based in Greater Manchester and want to boost team performance, morale, and collaboration, the Skills Development service is here to help, at no cost to your organisation.