Partner Article

Upskilling the North East workforce

Northumbria University has secured £365,000 worth of funding to help upskill the workforce of the North East.

The One NorthEast funding will allow several of the University’s Schools to develop additional training and education in key sectors in order to meet employer demand.

The work will focus on six of the nine regional priority sectors: Knowledge Intensive Business Services, Defence and Marine, Energy, Health and Social Care, Automotive and Food and Drink.

The funding will allow the development of work-based learning programmes.

One of the people who will benefit from this funding is Debra Young from Monkseaton.

Debra, 34, is the nursery manager at the Children’s Choice nursery in Monkseaton. She is studying on the Professional Practice course which is a programme of work-based learning that will offer her the chance to gain a University Honours Degree and Early Years Professional Status.

Now in her second year, Debra has found the course invaluable and as she only has to come to University one day a month, she is able to fit her work and personal life around the course.

“I had never considered going back to full-time education. I’m a single parent so that ruled out studying in the evenings so when I found out about this programme of study, it fitted my lifestyle brilliantly.’’

She added: “The course encourages you to reflect on your own practice. Last year I focused on child protection because it’s a subject I’m passionate about. I looked at ways of improving our policies and paperwork and its great to think that the work I’m doing will enhance the environment for the children who come here.’’Â

Sue Graham, Work-Related Learning Manager at Northumbria University, said: “This funding will offer the University a great opportunity to enhance its capacity and capability to develop and deliver employer-led programmes which is vital to ensure that the region’s workforce is geared up to meet the challenges of the 21st century.’’

Liz Robson, Senior Economic and Skills Analyst at One NorthEast said: “I am delighted that One NorthEast has been able to support this project, which helps regional businesses experience the value of highly skilled people. By meeting employer demand, this project will help people make a real difference to companies in the North East and take another step towards realising their ambitions.“Â

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .