Pitman Training Manchester Graduation Ceremony 2025: Celebrating Achievement, Community and City Pride

The Pitman Training Manchester Graduation Ceremony 2025 marked a defining moment of achievement, community spirit, and Mancunian pride. Hosted at the historic Manchester Hall, the event brought together graduates, families, friends, and distinguished guests to celebrate dedication, resilience, and the life-changing impact of professional skills training in Manchester.

A Celebration Backed by City Leadership and Community Support

This year’s ceremony was attended by a distinguished line-up, including The Lord Mayor of the City of Manchester, Councillor Carmine Grimshaw, Paul Lewis, Managing Director of Pitman Training Group, Susan Shelbrooke, Head of Support, and the full Pitman Training Manchester centre team.

Graduates were joined by family and friends who filled the grand hall with warmth and pride as each learner took to the stage. From career-changes to promotions and new professional futures, every story highlighted why Manchester remains one of the UK’s most ambitious and opportunity-driven cities.

Speeches That Captured the Heart of Manchester

The ceremony opened with a welcome from Manchester Centre Manager, Clair Henshaw, whose leadership has been instrumental in fostering a supportive and achievement-focused learning environment.

The Lord Mayor followed with a speech acknowledging the determination of adult learners who balance study with family, work and financial commitments, calling them “a credit to the city’s future workforce.”

Graduates were then individually presented with their certificates, each walk across the stage capturing a defining moment that many had quietly worked towards for months, if not years.

Student of the Year: Robert Barry’s Remarkable Career Progression

The announcement of Student of the Year recognised Robert Barry, whose progress over the past year reflects the real impact of focused skills training and consistent effort.

Robert joined Pitman Training to rebuild his digital confidence and sharpen his technical abilities. He committed fully to the programme, worked through the digital skills modules, applied the employability training straight away, and steadily grew his capability and confidence.

His determination paid off quickly. Just three weeks after graduating, Robert secured a senior position as Head of Credit and Risk at Hip Pop Insightful Brands, a significant career step that demonstrates how targeted upskilling can open new doors.

Robert didn’t stop there. He returned to continue developing his Excel skills and was known within his cohort for keeping morale high and supporting others along the way.

His journey is one of several strong success stories coming out of Manchester this year, a clear example of what learners can achieve when they put in the work and have the right support around them.

When presenting the award, Paul Lewis highlighted that graduation isn’t just a finish line but a starting point. Robert’s next chapter reflects that perfectly.

A Speech That Moved the Room

The emotional centrepiece of the ceremony came from Clair Henshaw, whose address resonated deeply with students, families and guests. Her words drew applause and moved several graduates to tears:

“You are the heartbeat of this city.
You are part of its future.
And Manchester — this brilliant, unstoppable city —
is greater today because you are in it.
Congratulations, Graduates of 2025.
You are extraordinary.”

A Milestone for Manchester’s Future Workforce

The 2025 graduation highlights the crucial role Pitman Training Manchester continues to play in strengthening the city’s talent pipeline. From administration and finance to IT, marketing, project management and beyond, each graduate now carries skills that contribute to Manchester’s growth and economic resilience.

Whether learners studied in-centre or online, the ceremony stood as proof that dedicated support, flexible training and high-quality qualifications can change lives, at any stage, in any career.

For anyone considering their next step, whether returning to learning, changing direction, or building confidence in new skills, this year’s graduation highlights what’s possible. With flexible study options, practical training, and a supportive learning environment, Pitman Training Manchester helps people turn ambition into real career progress, no matter where they’re starting from.