Afzal Khan, Member of Parliament for Manchester Rusholme, visited the GBS campus in Manchester to engage with students and staff and discuss the evolving skills landscape in the region. 

The visit included classroom interactions where Mr Khan met students and teaching staff, gaining insight into the academic experience and the life-changing impact of education on adult learners. Mr Khan shared his own experience of gaining qualifications as a mature student and how it had a transformative impact on his life. 

This was followed by a tour of the GBS Enterprise Hub, where he spoke with student entrepreneurs and the institution’s enterprise and employability advisers. The Hub plays a key role in encouraging entrepreneurial ambition and practical career readiness among learners. 

 

Afzal Khan, MP for Manchester Rusholme, said: “The opportunity to study at any age can provide people with new skills and opportunities invaluable to our local, regional, and national economies. It was fantastic to meet the staff and students at GBS in my constituency to hear about their dreams and how support for adult learning programmes contribute to them achieving these goals. 

“I am glad the Government is committed to working with education providers to ensure institutions create opportunities and get everyone into well-paid careers.” 

James Kennedy, CEO of GBS, said: “It’s always a pleasure to host MPs around the UK, to show them the tangible impact GBS is having within their communities. 

“Working hand-in-hand with the government at every level is critical to ensure we continue to upskill students and meet the demands of industry, boosting local and national economies. 

“Having Afzal Khan MP speak with students and staff also allowed him to share the great work he is doing as a local MP in the Greater Manchester area.” 

The GBS Manchester campus continues to focus on supporting learners from diverse backgrounds, with a strong emphasis on employability, enterprise, and pathways into further study or professional advancement. The visit underscored the institution’s alignment with wider regional and national objectives around skills and opportunity.