13 October 2016: bank sponsors third sector programme

Details in the press release below:

THE CO-OPERATIVE BANK SPONSORS UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER PROMETHEUS THIRD SECTOR PROGRAMME

The Co-operative Bank has worked with Alliance Manchester Business School in supporting its Prometheus programme, designed for third sector leaders, which was attended by nearly 100 delegates from the charity sector.

Now in its third year, Prometheus is a no-charge intensive executive-level learning and development programme aimed at leaders from UK 3rdsector organisations. It is delivered by a combination of world-leading experts from the University’s own faculty who teach on the Manchester MBA and other executive education courses along with respected practitioners with a wealth of industry experience.

The Bank’s support for the charitable, social enterprise and co-operative sectors is at the heart of its Ethical Policy and evidenced by the provision of a specialist charity team of Relationship Managers who only operate in the sector.

Earlier this year, the Bank and Co-operatives UK also announced the launch of ‘The Hive’, a new business support programme for people wanting to start or grow co-operative or community enterprises, using a mix of online resources, training and advice. The programme is designed to enhance the development and growth of co-operative and community enterprises, a sector that is currently worth £37bn to the UK economy.

Paul Martin, National Charities Manager at The Co-operative Bank, said: “As the only UK high street bank with a customer-led Ethical Policy, we were delighted to support The University of Manchester through Prometheus, a collaboration between Higher Education and the third sector in order to bring benefits to sector and help them improve the way they manage their organisations in the future.

“Our support for the third sector aligns with our Ethical Policy and it was great to see so many leaders from charities and social enterprises in attendance discussing the challenges being faced in communities within the UK.”

Dr Nick Clifford, Prometheus Director at Alliance MBS said: “Prometheus forms part of the School’s response to the University’s social responsibility strategy; it aims to meet a growing need within the third sector for help with leadership and management within an increasingly complicated set of challenges. Alliance MBS supports programmes such as Prometheus as part of its ambition to be a modern business school engaged in relevant and focused interventions across both the financial and commercial economy as well as the social economy. Now into its third year, the School is constantly improving and updating the programme and the chance to work with The Co-operative Bank has only added to this development.”

The two-day programme ran on 4/5 October and consisted of sessions, discussions and practical activities that helped equip delegates with a range of approaches to effect a positive change within their organisation in order to sustain a successful contribution to the delivery of socially useful charitable and not-for-profit services of the future.