Member Article

Novel North East employment programme unveils business advisory team

Generation NE, a landmark new employment programme in the region, has unveiled its team of six dedicated business advisors charged with supporting SMEs in their local area to grow.

The recently launched programme is a collaboration between five local authorities – including Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland, and the North East LEP.

Over the next three years it will support the region’s SME community to grow by increasing sustainable employment opportunities for up to 2,000 young people aged between 17 and 24 years.

As Generation NE’s business advisors, each will offer SMEs in their locality a tailored and impartial service that will allow companies to make connections with the next generation of the region’s workforce.

Amongst those appointed as part of the new team is Barbara Clark who is based in North Tyneside; Karen McParlin and Anjana Raj in Gateshead; Gill Cairns in County Durham; Mike Hawkins in Northumberland and Donna Barker in Newcastle.

Generation NE’s Mark Stamper said: “Our business advisors are a dedicated team with the sole aim of providing the North East’s small to medium-sized businesses with a simplified, responsive and coordinated service that will support their company to future-proof their workforces whilst engaging with young people.

“Each advisor will be based in their local community working directly with businesses to offer one-to-one advice and a tailor-made package of business support services.

“We want to work with businesses to ensure that they have the most effective routes available to them in accessing the regions younger workforce, including through maximising the available government funded skills support available.”