A new commission to improve people’s skills, job prospects and help businesses is being launched today (Wed 21 Sep) in Bury.

The Bury Life Chances Commission aims to ensure that schools, colleges and companies work together so that young people of all abilities can maximise their potential and employment opportunities.

The commission has been created by Bury Council leader Rishi Shori and will be chaired by former Bury man Phil Collins, columnist at The Times.

It is asking the business community, especially small businesses, to identify gaps in the current provision and what their needs are, and provide support for entrepreneurialism and those who wish to work for themselves.

The commission will also look at helping adults to retrain and up-skill so that they are ‘employable for life’ in an era when the days of a life-long job are largely over.

It comes following the news that Bury College, Bolton College and the University of Bolton are merging to create a full-time higher education presence in Bury.

As well as Cllr Shori and Mr Collins, speakers at today’s launch will include Andy Burnham, candidate for Mayor of Greater Manchester, and Debi Fellone, entrepreneur and Bury business owner.

Cllr Shori said:“Bury is already great place to live, but I want everyone to get the best chances in life. We also need to be ambitious and grasp the opportunities that devolution of powers to Greater Manchester will bring.”

He added: “We already have one of the most highly skilled populations in Greater Manchester. We need to build on that to create new opportunities, not just in Bury but beyond, becoming a hub of highly skills which will benefit those across the whole of the conurbation and wider.

“I’m looking forward to working with the commission as it hears Bury’s views, and look forward to hearing its recommendations.”

Mr Collins is a former student of Bury Grammar School and was a speechwriter to former Prime Minister Tony Blair.

He said: “As someone born and raised in Bury, I’m incredibly proud to be chairing this commission. Bury is a great place to grow up and live in, but we can still do more to help everyone fulfil their potential. We’ll be listening to what everyone has to say over the coming months, and I’m looking forward to hearing what Bury thinks.”