Our Partners
We work closely with a range of partner organisations that provide our students with opportunities and support on their career pathway journeys.
Our partner organisations come from the worlds of sport, medical and allied health, health and social care, business, leisure and media/marketing/digital. They provide a mix of formal and informal support across a number of disciplines. Our partners provide real world work experience opportunities, skill development and employer-led experiences that bring our students' learning to life.
Students visit our partners’ workplaces, work with their employees, experience mock interviews, and see first-hand how what they learn in the classroom translates to the world of work. Many of them also offer highly desirable work experience placements – including in medicine and law – exclusively to our students. All students have an equal opportunity of access and support to apply.
ALDERMORE BANK
Aldermore Bank focusses on providing straightforward lending and savings products to their customers, driven by their purpose of backing more people to go for it in life and business.
Aldermore was founded in 2009 when access to credit and finance had generally become more challenging, due to the financial crash in 2007-2008. Aldermore fought to challenge high street banks, doing more to address the needs of people who were being overlooked and underserved by mainstream providers.
Aldermore have an office presence in Manchester and Wilmslow. They run an active early careers strategy, “Experience Aldermore,” that delivers an annual cycle of events running throughout the academic year for schools, higher and further education institutions. They provide financial education, workplace experiences, and careers guidance for students looking for a career in banking and finance.
Subject areas supported: Finance, Banking, Business, Law, Marketing.
CITY IN THE COMMUNITY
For over 30 years, MCFC’s charitable foundation has been making a difference in community sport for people of all ages, including those with disabilities and health issues.
The City in the Community (CITC) football pathway gives students a daily opportunity to train under the expert guidance of its coaching team.
Students on this pathway compete on a weekly basis and are able to participate in a wide range of sporting community activities and events. Outside this provision, they offer weekly training sessions to our wider student body, and support us with curriculum enrichment and careers education.
Subject areas supported: Sport.
CO-OP GROUP
One of the world’s largest consumer co-operatives, owned by millions of members. The Co-op is the UK’s fifth-biggest food retailer; the UK’s number one funeral services provider; a major general insurer and a growing legal services business.
They employ nearly 70,000 people and are a recognised leader for their social goals and community-led programmes. With their headquarters in Manchester, Connell works in partnership with the Co-op Group to give our students workplace experiences.
Our students have the opportunity to apply for placements that give them the opportunity to work in a variety of areas including finance, marketing, communications, HR, customer services and legal. Students get the opportunity to experience a selection process and a project management style of working as well as being able to experience working life in One Angel Square (Co-op HQ).
Subject areas supported: Business, Law, Marketing.
GLL
GLL is a not-for-profit charitable social enterprise committed to delivering a better quality of fitness, leisure, libraries and performing arts facilities for everyone. They are one of Manchester’s biggest employers in the sport and leisure industry.
They manage over 258 facilities across the UK. In Manchester, this includes community and elite sporting venues such as the National Cycling Centre and National Basketball Performance Centre; as well as local leisure centres, such as East Manchester Leisure Centre and Manchester Aquatics Centre, and many more.
Connell is working in partnership with GLL by providing students studying BTEC courses in Sport, Coaching & Development, Sport & Exercise Science and Health and Social Care a guaranteed interview and employment trial.
Employment with them can run throughout your time at Connell and beyond into university or full-time employment. They are a real living wage employer providing flexible working hours. They will provide you with training and qualifications, enabling you to progress in the sports industry.
Subject areas supported: Sport, Health & Social Care, Marketing.
MANCHESTER CITY FOOTBALL CLUB
Connell is built on land gifted by the club and so our relationship with Manchester City Football Club (MCFC) and its charitable foundation, City in the Community, has always been strong.
Our students benefit from access to a wide range of professionals and work-related experiences in sports science, nutrition, psychology and rehabilitation, as well as broader areas of business operations such as media, marketing, comms and legal.
Our students’ curriculum experience is enhanced by access to a wide range of local and national businesses via the club’s strong community links and business partnerships.
We’ve been working closely with the club since 2022 to help our students better understand employment opportunities in the green economy and the needs of businesses to move to net-zero.
Subject areas supported: Sport Business, Media, Marketing, Legal.
MÜLLER
Müller UK & Ireland is a family-owned business which employs over 33,000 people throughout
Europe. They develop, manufacture and market a wide range of branded and private label dairy products made with milk from over 1,000 farmers in Britain, alongside a designated plant-based range. They have strategic partnerships throughout the UK, and export to over 60 countries internationally.
Müller is one of the ten most chosen FMCG brands in Great Britain, and the most popular dairy brand. It is ranked within the top 20 in The Grocer’s Top 100 list of Britain’s Biggest Brands and is picked from shelves millions of times each year.
Connell works in partnership with Müller to offer our students educational experiences focused on healthy lifestyles and sustainability. They also provide careers support, mock interviews, mentoring, site visits and work experience opportunities.
Subject areas supported: Business, Marketing, Sustainability, Engineering, STEM.
NUFFIELD HEALTH
Nuffield Health (NH) is the UK’s largest healthcare charity. They exist to build a healthier nation through outstanding services in 37 award-winning hospitals, 114 fitness and wellbeing clubs, healthcare clinics and over 200 workplace wellbeing services.
They are committed to delivering a sustainable, inclusive and meaningful impact in their communities. They employ over 5,000 healthcare professionals and have a number of centres across Greater Manchester.
Connell is working in partnership with NH to help our students with career ambitions in medicine or allied health be able to access high-quality and meaningful work experience opportunities with healthcare professionals. All students studying a health related course visit clinical settings such as the Manchester Institute of Health and Performance (MIHP - based next door to college).
Medical professionals will talk to students about their experiences and career pathways. Work experience days will enable students to work in simulated healthcare scenarios under the guidance of health professionals. Nuffield Health staff will stage mock interviews and help students to prepare for university applications.
Subject areas supported: Medicine, Health & Social Care, Sport.
SOFTCAT
Softcat is a FTSE 250 UK-based IT and services provider with ten offices across the UK&I, including
Manchester. They support businesses and public sector organisations to optimise their technology.
The company offers a broad portfolio of services, including cloud solutions, cybersecurity, software licencing, and managed IT. They have strong partnerships with leading tech vendors like Microsoft, Dell, and Cisco. And they deliver tailored solutions to help their clients achieve their strategic goals through innovative and reliable technology.
Softcat is also widely recognised for its vibrant and inclusive company culture. It places a strong emphasis on employee wellbeing, collaboration, and personal development.
Connell works in partnership with Softcat to offer our students careers support, mock interviews, mentoring, site visits and work experience opportunities.