Oldham Council's Get Oldham Working wins national award

Oldham Council's employment support service has won a major national award, beating some of the biggest names in the industry. Get Oldham Working was crowned winner of the Tailored Employment Support Award at the ERSA Employability Awards 2025, triumphing over major providers including Ingeus, Seetec, The Growth Company, Maximus, G4S and Reed.

The service, which has been running since 2013, has now created over 21,600 opportunities and helped more than 16,500 residents find work. This year's awards attracted more than 250 national nominations, with Get Oldham Working also shortlisted in five additional categories.

Leader of Oldham Council Cllr Arooj Shah praised the team's dedication, saying the service is about 'unlocking the potential of our people'. The service offers unique support including GOW Wardrobe for interview preparation and styling, and GOW Therapy providing clinical support for at least 26 weeks.

The annual Jobs Fair attracted 2,200 residents and 54 employers this year, creating direct access to live vacancies. Cllr Fida Hussain, Cabinet Member for Enterprise, said the recognition shows 'just how powerful our locally led approach can be' and that the service is 'rooted in our communities, providing support that genuinely changes lives'.