The prison provides for a wide range of training and education courses on conjunction with the Manchester College. These courses are aligned to employment demands on release, and include Construction Crafts, Motor Vehicles, Horticultural courses, Hospitality and Catering and Rail Construction NVQ Level 2. Thorn Cross has a number of partnerships with national and local employers which offer opportunities for work placements prior to and on release. The basics of literacy and numeracy are offered; along with higher level training in Skills for Life. Internal work at the prison includes the usual array of orderly positions.
Health service is provided by the NHS via Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Trust