GM Active is a collaborative network of 12 leisure and community organisations working across Greater Manchester. Their mission is to tackle health inequalities by promoting active lifestyles and improving community wellbeing. With a commitment to inclusivity, GM Active strives to ensure every individual has access to opportunities that enhance physical and mental health.
Recognising GM Active’s people-focused ethos and its need for strategic workforce development, Future Fit for Business continues to work closely with the organisation to provide tools and tailored solutions addressing leadership, management, and capacity-building potential. Through this ongoing partnership, GM Active’s leaders and staff are empowered to deliver their vision of healthier communities while driving sustainable and systemic change.
Through its influence across 12 independent organisations, GM Active plays a pivotal role in shaping workforce standards and development across Greater Manchester’s public sector leisure services.
To support its mission of transforming public sector leisure and tackling health inequalities, GM Active has adopted a three-strand workforce development strategy. This includes a comprehensive Digital Induction to align all staff with its system-wide mission, a Management Development Programme for aspiring leaders, and a Transformational Leadership Programme to equip senior staff with the skills to lead change at scale. Delivered in partnership with Future Fit for Business, these strands collectively support a whole-systems approach to leadership, engagement, and organisational growth.
As Jon Keating explains, the goal is to ensure every employee understands the impact of their role: “Think of the cleaner at NASA who, when questioned about what they do, replied, ‘I’m helping to put a man on the moon’. Everybody has a role to play.”
Designed for emerging managers, this programme provides foundational management principles and practical tools for effective leadership. Key modules include Team Leadership, Managing People, and Planning and Organising Work. Participants also develop actionable 100-day plans to implement their learning.
Future Fit for Business provides flexible delivery formats, including in-person workshops, online modules, and blended learning paths, to meet GM Active’s unique needs. Through an ongoing consultative approach, Future Fit for Business works closely with GM Active to design training solutions that equip its workforce with practical and scalable tools.
The management programme is designed for ease of study, allowing learners to progress at their own pace and access materials from anywhere with an internet connection. This flexibility ensures that busy professionals can fit learning around their schedules, enabling continuous personal and professional development. By maintaining this active partnership, Future Fit for Business continues to help GM Active identify system-wide opportunities, encouraging participants to think collaboratively and drive impactful change across their communities.
With approximately 3,500 staff members, the programmes have trained over 100 participants in transformational leadership and 65 in management principles – showcasing the significant scale of engagement and its wide-reaching impact. Future Fit for Business remains actively engaged with GM Active, supporting its evolving workforce needs and fostering ongoing collaboration to drive sustainable change.
Over 100 participants have completed the Transformational Leadership Programme, fostering a forward-thinking culture and embedding a strategic vision across GM Active.
The Management Development Programme continues to equip emerging managers with critical skills, ensuring a strong pipeline of future leaders.
Through the ongoing partnership, GM Active has improved workforce efficiency and cohesion. By adopting a systemic approach, the organisation allows its staff to identify and act on opportunities system-wide. This transformation strengthens GM Active’s ability to deliver impactful community programmes.
The strengthened leadership and workforce capabilities have amplified GM Active’s impact, enabling them to address regional health inequalities more effectively.
GM Active’s Digital Induction has engaged over 1,500 employees, laying the groundwork for a shared sense of purpose across the entire 3,500-strong workforce. This foundational step ensures that everyone, regardless of role, is aligned with the organisation’s mission, strengthening cohesion, motivation, and long-term impact.
This programme has helped our leaders think strategically and act decisively, creating a lasting impact across all of our member organisations.
Jon Keating, GM Active
This programme equips participants with the skills to lead change, foster a healthy organisational culture, and adopt a whole-systems approach to collaboration. Key modules include Principles of Leadership, Creating Culture, Leading for Change, and a 100-day action plan for applying learning in real-world contexts.
We knew we had to design our learning to empower GM Active employees to better support their communities — and with the help of these tailored courses, we were able to elevate their capabilities to an entirely new level.
Regardless of the size of your organisation, we have a range of solutions available; from progressive training to upskill your staff, to bespoke workforce learning and development support. At Future Fit for Business, our goal is to maximise your organisational impact.
