20.01.2026
Morson Group are proud to be the headline sponsors of the Greater Manchester regional Smart Works Unemployment index.
The Smart Works Unemployment Index, which was launched at the House of Lords today (20th January), provides a national picture of the barriers women face when seeking employment. Smart Works, a charity that supports women in finding work by providing coaching and interview clothing, compiled the report using insights from thousands of women who have used their services from across the UK.
Building on this important work, Morson Group has been confirmed as the headline sponsor of the regional Smart Works Greater Manchester Index, which will be launched on 6th February, with VIP guest Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester along with Morson Group Executive Chairman Ged Mason and Adrian Adair, CEO of Morson Edge. This regional report will highlight the specific challenges faced by women across Greater Manchester as they navigate the job‑seeking process, from searching for roles to preparing for interviews and progressing through selection stages. It will also offer practical recommendations for employers and recruiters to help unlock female talent and strengthen inclusive hiring practices.
Morson’s sponsorship reflects the Group’s ongoing commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, and builds on the recruitment business’s focus on EDI and enabling employers to benefit from the full potential of female talent. The company carried out its own research with hiring managers and candidates last year, resulting in their neuroinclusion whitepaper. Through its partnership with the University of Salford, Morson is also involved with the Go Beyond mentoring scheme, which provides mentors for female students in STEM disciplines as they transition from study to the workplace.
Ged Mason OBE, HonDBA, Executive Chairman of Morson Group explained:
“We work with a lot of employers who are focused on building a more diverse team and embedding inclusiveness in their recruitment practices and culture. We are supporting many of those companies towards those goals with employee value proposition development, clear and inclusive job descriptions, and equitable recruitment and selection processes.
“The Smart Works Unemployment Index provides a real-world overview of the real challenges faced by women in accessing work and career opportunities, with a solutions-based narrative detailing steps that employers and recruiters can take to break down barriers to employment and leverage female talent pools. We are delighted to continue Morson’s commitment to diversity and inclusion by sponsoring this report and sharing it with our clients.”
Jacqui Jones, Head of Client Services (Transportation) at Morson Edge attended the launch event at the House of Lords, alongside representatives of Smart Works.
Emma Pickering, Chair of the Board of Trustees, Smart Works Greater Manchester:
“Morson is an ideal headline sponsor for our Greater Manchester Unemployment Index report because the company understands the challenges of the recruitment and selection process and has shown long-term commitments to both ED&I and social mobility.
“We are delighted to team up with a company that is so closely aligned with our aims and purpose, and their involvement will help us to continue to highlight the barriers to employment for women, along with the value of supporting women on their job seeking journey.”
At Morson, we’re not just in the business of recruitment. We’re bridging the gap between today and tomorrow. From engineering to energy, infrastructure to defence, transportation to technology, we connect the brightest minds with the biggest challenges.
Our approach to social value is shaped by listening, learning, and supporting initiatives where we believe we can make a positive contribution. Whether through charity sponsorship, volunteering, community engagement, or inclusive employment practices, we aim to make a meaningful contribution that delivers real outcomes for individuals and communities.
In partnership with the University of Salford and the Morson STEM Foundation, we help female students explore and steer their potential career paths. Find out more here
