Fund aims to ‘meet skills need’ across North East

A multi-million-pound fund aims to help businesses across the North East address critical skills gaps and drive economic growth and opportunity.

Gateshead College has secured £3 million from the North East Combined Authority to deliver free and subsidised training courses through skills bootcamps.

Delivered in partnership with 3t Training, Maersk Training, Renewable Field Services and Training 4 Retrofit, the initiative builds on Gateshead College’s track record, which has managed £14.8 million in bootcamp funding, partnered with 14 delivery partners and supported more than 2600 individuals in gaining new qualifications since 2021.

David Alexander, Gateshead College’s principal and chief executive, said: “We are delighted to receive this significant funding award from the North East Combined Authority, which will enable us to meet skills need across the region. 

“The work we have done in collaborating with local employer partners to design the content means the courses are focused on the skills employers are asking for, which ultimately will put people in a great position to secure work.”

Covering an extensive range of digital specialisms including fintech, virtual production, visual FX and user interface/user experience, as well as other sectors such as engineering and manufacturing, green power, construction, teaching, finance, events management, music and hospitality, the bootcamps have been designed in conjunction with local businesses to meet the region's workforce demands.

Open to adults aged 19 and over, they offer fast-track training with a guaranteed interview upon completion.

North East mayor Kim McGuinness added: “I want to create real opportunity across the North East and deliver a new deal for workers in our region. 

“Helping people to retrain, improve their skills and fulfil their potential is crucial to achieving that.

“It's exciting people and businesses will start to benefit from the £3 million awarded to Gateshead College; together, we can create a brighter future and more opportunity for people, not just in Gateshead, but the surrounding communities the college serves.”

Additionally, Gateshead College is managing a £3.48 million skills bootcamps in digital programme, funded by the Department for Education, which is focusing on advanced areas like cybersecurity, AI and data analytics, in collaboration with INFINITY27, Baltic Apprenticeships and Foresight e-Learning & Creative.

Councillor Tracey Dixon, North East Combined Authority cabinet member for education, inclusion and skills, added: “People in the North East will be able to retrain, improve their skills and even step into their dream careers thanks to more funding and wider opportunities we are providing.”

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