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Free support to tackle your business’s recruitment and retention issues

Research by the Open University and the British Chambers of Commerce shows that 73% of UK organisations are facing skills shortages.

Michelle Rainbow, Skills Director at the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (North East LEP) explains how workplace learning can help businesses overcome shortages, and shares details of support on offer for businesses in the North East.

Evidence tells us that, nationwide, businesses are finding it difficult to recruit the skilled staff they need. And we know this is an issue for firms here in the North East as well.

How can businesses take practical steps to overcome these problems?   

The recommendations given by the Open University and the British Chambers of Commerce include exploring how apprenticeships and higher technical qualifications – including T Levels – can help you plug skills gaps and create a culture of lifelong learning in your business.

For businesses based here in the North East, there is good news: we have free, expert support on offer to help you find out how apprenticeships and T Levels could work in your business, and free tools and resources you can use to put them in place.

If you’d like to take advantage of this offer, your first step should be to sign up to two events which are coming up next week, during National Apprenticeship Week 2024.

Firstly, on Tuesday 6 February, we will be holding a free webinar where you can find out about Early Connect: a Department for Education project for apprenticeships which is being piloted in three English regions – including here in the North East. It’s a brilliant opportunity to get extra, practical support with delivering apprenticeships and advertising your vacancies to young people. You can sign up to attend the webinar here.

On Thursday 8 February, our focus will be on T Levels, which can be a way for your business to attract tomorrow’s workforce. You’ll hear from organisations which are already offering T Level industry placements, we’ll tell you about the free support on offer and you’ll leave with tools and resources for your business. Make sure you sign up for this webinar here.

If you’ve been struggling to address recruitment and retention within your business, there is help on offer. Don’t miss out on support for your business.

Find out more and sign up to attend Why an apprenticeship makes good business sense on Tuesday 6 February here.

Sign up to be at How businesses are attracting top talent through T Levels on Thursday 8 February here.

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Mentoring project tackles barriers to youth employment

A ground-breaking initiative aimed at shaping brighter futures for young people in South Tyneside has boosted skills and reshaped employer perspectives.

The Mentoring Project was launched to help young people involved with the Youth Justice Service (YJS) to raise their aspirations.

The pilot, led by the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), matched a group of YJS young people with six employers to provide opportunities to learn about the type of skills and behaviours valued in the workplace and to introduce them to positive employer role models.

The initiative not only refined the mentoring skills of the employers involved but has also provided a deeper understanding of the challenges confronting YJS young people.

An independent review of the pilot has reported benefits for both mentees and mentors, showcasing the project’s significant impact.

According to the review, the Mentoring Project provided mentees, often experiencing their first exposure to work, with practical insights into specific career paths and educational trajectories.

As for the businesses involved, the mentors reported satisfaction in giving back to their communities and broadening their perspectives and skills. They also developed a better understanding of young people’s experience in the context of Youth Justice and thereby broke down some of the barriers around potential stereotypes of young people in contact with YJS.

One of the mentors involved in the pilot, Steve Cumpson Systems Application and Products Basis Manager at Newcastle University IT Service, said: “I had never done anything like this before but the key for me was thinking what if I could even help one person by a small amount, that would be fantastic. I had no expectations going in on whether it would be successful, but this has been one of the best experiences of my life.

“It has just sparked something within me, and it has seemed to work well for me and for my mentee. The feedback has been amazing and quite humbling, and the impact also on my mentee has been special to see. The benefits have been massive and have impacted every part of my life. There is not a single doubt in my mind that I want to continue in this area.”

Other companies involved in the mentoring were Keepmoat, Komatsu, Wates, Goldfinch Estate Agents, and the Port of Tyne.

As a result of the pilot, South Tyneside Council has officially incorporated mentoring into its Business Pledge, offering every business signing up the chance to contribute to this impactful initiative.

A special event was held at South Shields Town Hall to celebrate the success of the pilot project.

Councillor Jane Carter, Lead Member for Education and Skills, said: “This inspirational scheme has absolutely been a win-win for both our young people and employers.

“It has shown just how great an impact can be made when employers are willing to give their time and experience and young people are prepared to learn. By breaking down barriers, this project has helped these young people look forward to a much more positive future.”

Developed by the North East LEP in partnership with South Tyneside Council’s YJS team and with funding by the Careers and Enterprise Company (CEC), the Mentoring Project saw local employers work intensively with the young people over a year.

Michelle Rainbow, Skills Director for the North East Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “We are delighted to have supported The Mentoring Project, which bridged the gap that young people in contact with Youth Justice Service experience when exploring future career pathways.

“The work done so far has begun to dismantle the barriers between YJS young people and employers, contributing to destigmatising this group by fostering greater understanding of their histories and circumstances.”

Ian Buckingham, Strategic Consulting Partner at Mosaic Partners, who delivered part of the training in the project, said: “We have been able to cultivate some exceptional, values-driven mentors from several working generations; develop a toolkit and upskilling approach that now serves as a model for future projects and, most importantly, there have been some excellent early wins and outcomes for several of the participants to help them re-connect with their potential and the wider world of work.”

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International delegation visits North East England to see positive impact of Gatsby Benchmarks on careers education

A group of international careers leaders from Hong Kong have visited North East England to see how the good career guidance benchmarks have been successfully embedded within the region, and how they are improving outcomes for young people across the North East.

Organised by The Gatsby Foundation in partnership with the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (North East LEP), the visit saw career leaders, school principals and education experts from Hong Kong spend one week visiting schools and employers across the North East to see the good career guidance benchmarks in action.

Developed by The Gatsby Foundation, the good career guidance benchmarks are a set of eight benchmarks that serve as a framework for world-class careers provision. The North East region hosted the original Gatsby Benchmarks pilot between 2015 and 2017. In 2017, the Benchmarks were adopted as part of the government’s Careers Strategy for schools and colleges in England.

The recent visit from the Hong Kong delegation follows the implementation of an adapted set of 10 benchmarks. In Hong Kong, an initial pilot involving six schools has now expanded to 110 schools; approximately 25% of all schools in Hong Kong.

The group of careers leaders were invited by The Gatsby Foundation to see how deep rooted and embedded the Benchmarks are in the North East, and the positive impact this is having on the aspirations and career outcomes of the region’s students.

The visit will also form part of an international case study that will support Gatsby’s work on their ‘Good Career Guidance: The Next Ten Years’ report.

Ryan Gibson, Senior Adviser for Careers at The Gatsby Foundation and former National Facilitator of the Gatsby Pilot in the North East said “It was a pleasure to welcome career leaders, school principals and education experts from Hong Kong to England to learn from the excellent practice in our schools and colleges.

“The Benchmarks are based on international evidence of what works, and they represent a world class standard of careers provision. We are delighted to now be inspiring approaches in other countries.”

L-R Ryan Gibson, Senior Adviser for Careers at The Gatsby Foundation and Stephen Yip, Director (Schools) for the Hong Kong Benchmarks programme

Matt Joyce, Regional Lead: North East Ambition at the North East Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “Having delivered the original pilot, and now in our role supporting all schools and colleges in the region to achieve the good career guidance benchmarks, the North East LEP is in a unique position to show others how successful the Benchmarks can be in creating an institution-wide approach to delivering high quality careers education and guidance.

“As well as showcasing the great work happening in schools and colleges here in the North East, it’s been fantastic to learn from our international colleagues about the work they are doing in Hong Kong.

“A really important part of this visit has been demonstrating how the good career guidance benchmarks fit with the wider skills agenda; supporting students to be work ready and delivering the talent and skills employers need.

“It’s been a pleasure to host the delegation and show them the transformational impact of the good career guidance benchmarks.”

Stephen Yip, Director (Schools) for the Hong Kong Benchmarks programme said “This visit brings the next generation of career leaders to North East England to learn new ideas, strategies and the effective whole institution approach needed to effectively achieve the good career guidance benchmarks.

“Schools and colleges in North East England have taken a remarkable step up across all benchmark areas over the last three years. Such a leap is achieved because of both frontline practices and the overall infrastructure provided by the North East LEP careers hub; to ensure youngsters in the region receive the best careers education for future paths.

“We are all inspired by the best practices demonstrated by the visited schools and will implement them to our contexts with little hesitation. Perhaps the most impressive part of the journey is the confidence and the sense of agency shown by the students upon their career-related future. This is indeed the power of The Gatsby Benchmarks.”

Joanne Maw, CEO of Aspire North East Multi Academy Trust, said: “It was a privilege to welcome the careers professionals and school leaders from Hong Kong to Southmoor Academy and have the opportunity to share our whole school approach to careers education.

“Staff benefitted greatly from the opportunity to showcase their work and answer a range of thought-provoking questions. It was inspiring to meet such a dedicated team of leaders who are deeply committed to a holistic approach to student progression.”

To illustrate the importance of employee engagement in delivering the Benchmarks, the North East LEP arranged a visit to international energy company, Equinor, which has a base at the Port of Tyne in South Tyneside.

Tom Nightingale. North East Stakeholder Manager at Equinor, said: “It was fantastic to support the North East LEP and host the delegation from Hong Kong at Dogger Bank Wind Farm operations and maintenance base. Sharing knowledge around skills initiatives with other countries is essential to develop knowledge around areas such as Gatsby Benchmarks, where the region is already leading in delivery.”

Matt Joyce continued: “During the visit we were able to demonstrate the impact of the Benchmarks and the crucial role of career hubs in supporting schools and colleges to create world-class careers provision.

“The delegation has left with an understanding of the importance of positioning careers not only as part of education, but as a lever for economic growth.”

Through its North East Ambition programme, the North East LEP is supporting all North East schools and colleges to achieve the good career guidance benchmarks by 2024.

For more information about the good career guidance benchmarks, visit www.northeastambition.co.uk.

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£7.4million awarded to expand Skills Bootcamps in the North East

£7.4million has been awarded by government to expand the range of Skills Bootcamps on offer to people and businesses in the North East.

The funding has been awarded to the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (North East LEP) by the Department for Education, following the successful delivery of the region’s Green Skills Bootcamps in 2022-23, which saw nearly 800 people aged 19 and over benefit from training.

In total, the North East LEP area has now been awarded £9.8million to deliver Skills Bootcamps between 2022 and 2024.

“The first wave of Skills Bootcamps focused on ‘green skills’, equipping people with the knowledge and skills they need to work in renewable energy, or with electric vehicles, for example,” explained Michelle Rainbow, Skills Director at the North East LEP.

“Now, we’re rolling out an expanded programme of training which includes more green skills and also training in advanced manufacturing, business and education – areas where we know there are opportunities for people in our region.

“This is an opportunity to build on the success of the previous wave of Skills Bootcamps and give even more people the chance to gain the skills which will make a real, positive difference to their lives.”

The Skills Bootcamps are free, flexible courses of up to 16 weeks, giving people the opportunity to build up sector-specific skills and fast-track to an interview with a local employer. They are part of the Government’s Lifetime Skills Guarantee, helping everyone gain skills for life.

This latest wave of Skills Bootcamps sees the number of training providers in the region increase from 11 to 18, and the addition of employer-led training, with businesses including Nissan and Unipres signed up to deliver training. New College Durham, Gateshead College and Education Partnership North East are also part of the consortium of partners guiding the delivery.

“The Skills Bootcamps are open to individual learners and to businesses that want to upskill their existing staff members,” said Michelle Rainbow. “More than 100 employers have been involved in shaping the training and we hope that another 1,800 people will now be able to gain new skills and guaranteed job interviews through this latest programme of Skills Bootcamps. This is in addition to the 350 who have successfully completed a Green Skills Bootcamp and have secured a new job, progressed in their current role or secured additional self employed contracts.”

Details of skills bootcamps on offer in the North East can be found at www.northeastgrowthhub.co.uk/skills-bootcamps.  

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Celebrating the impact of careers advisers on people’s lives


Last month, an event in Newcastle upon Tyne celebrated the impact careers guidance can have on people’s lives, and brought together careers guidance professionals to access training opportunities. Mark Fox, Careers Hub Facilitator at the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (North East LEP) shares some highlights.

Back in 2018 the North East LEP started a network for qualified careers advisers who work in schools and colleges in our region, to share good practice across the North East. The network grew and, last month, we hosted our second conference, to celebrate the work careers advisers do in our region and to help them access training.

There’s a national shortage of careers advisers, including in the North East, and we wanted to really celebrate how important this role is, and also give existing careers advisers opportunities to upskill and focus on their own professional development, as well as that of the people they work with.

Our keynote speaker was Professor Pete Robertson from Edinburgh Napier University, who emphasised that careers guidance is all about ambition and opportunity, and demonstrated the links between careers guidance and the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Everything about careers guidance is positive and it has such an important impact on young people’s wellbeing and aspirations – and also on societies and economies. It’s about more than just work, it’s about identity, health, and making a contribution.

The North East LEP’s Economic Analyst, Thomas Athey, presented research into emergent markets in our region like cloud computing, software development and robotics, which will be shaping the careers and opportunities of the future.

And Nexus’s HR Director, Rachel Redshaw, shared how Nexus now uses values-based recruitment methods, focusing on ambition and aspiration. It’s a really interesting development which links with the new, holistic framework for careers guidance.  

Before the event, we asked members of the network what training and professional development they’d like to access and, as a result, were able to link them with a range of opportunities, including the new skills bootcamps which are being rolled out in our region, covering topics including careers advice and guidance.

We know that members also want to stay up to date on new markets, so will be arranging learning visits to employers in growth sectors in our region, so advisers can keep up to date with what’s happening in areas like energy, health and life sciences, advanced manufacturing and digital.

That’s just a taster of the day. There was a real buzz and it was brilliant to be able to bring people together face to face.

I hope we managed to convey just how important the work of careers advisers is, especially post-COVID. It’s gives people agency, ambition, and control over decisions about their future.

We’d love to see more North East careers advisers at our next event, so if you’d like to join the network, email me on [email protected].

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Region-wide event looks to the future of North East careers education and guidance

Careers leaders and other professionals working in careers guidance from across the seven North East local authorities gathered in Newcastle upon Tyne last week to discuss making careers education and guidance in our region fit for the future.

Organised by the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (North East LEP), the North East Ambition Regional Careers Conference focused on changes to education and the labour market, new technologies, and helping young people develop the skills to be successful in this future world. It also addressed the role that careers guidance plays in catalysing economic growth in the North East.

Matt Joyce, Regional Lead: North East Ambition, from the North East LEP, said: “This is the only event of its kind in the region that brings together careers leaders and other key stakeholders from across the seven North East local authorities to focus on how we can support young people prepare for their future.

“It’s an important forum to share knowledge and best practice, look at careers provision on a pan-regional scale, and to make sure that the careers education and guidance young people are receiving is setting them – and our region – up for a successful future.”

Attended by careers leaders from schools, colleges and SEND schools, as well as stakeholders such as employers, governors and local authorities, the event included keynote presentations on the role of AI in education, the importance of personal guidance and the future of the jobs market in the North East. There were also updates on national policy and on practice within the North East.

Practical workshops on a diverse range of topics also shared best practice and equipped careers leaders with the tools and resources they need to deliver high quality careers education and help develop young people’s knowledge and understanding of the opportunities open to them and the skills they will need.

Ronald Burn, Head of Careers Education and Student Progress at Newcastle College, who attended the event, said: “These events provide an essential networking opportunity for careers professionals to get together and share best practice and build collaborative progression awareness of opportunities for our young people across the region.”

And Gareth McQuillan, School Improvement Adviser, North Tyneside Council, said: “It was great to see just how much is happening in the North East around careers and employer engagement.”

Matt Joyce added: “Top quality careers provision for young people is essential in helping them make decisions about their future, understand what opportunities are available in different sectors, and the range of routes into them.”

“And it’s essential that careers leaders and others working with young people are given what they need to support young people in their important decision-making. This is what will help us make sure our region has a pipeline of skilled and ambitious young people to take us forward.”

The North East LEP is supporting all schools and colleges in the North East to achieve the Gatsby Good Career Guidance Benchmarks by 2024 through its North East Ambition programme that provides year-round training, resources, updates as well as bespoke support for Careers Leaders, teachers, head teachers and governors.

Find out more about the North East LEP’s work to raise the standards of careers guidance in the region at www.NorthEastAmbition.co.uk.

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Businesses invited to help Gateshead pupils with special educational needs gain workplace skills

North East businesses are invited to take part in a games tournament, designed to help Gateshead pupils with special educational needs gain the skills they’ll need in the workplace.

Hill Top School in Gateshead has been working with Corrina Mulholland and Stephanie Smith from Gateshead Community Organisation to devise ways for its sixth form students to learn about careers and develop skills needed in the workplace.

Corrina and Stephanie have been partnered with the school through the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (North East LEP)’s Enterprise Adviser network, which pairs business leaders with local schools to help improve careers education for young people.

“Pupils who have special educational needs don’t always get the opportunity to do a work placement, so we came up with the idea of a games tournament, which the students are organising, as a way for them to meet local businesses, gain confidence and learn new skills,” explained Corrina.

In advance of the event, pupils have taken the lead in organising the day, forming a board of directors, with responsibility for finance, marketing and catering.

On the day, the pupils will gain experience of serving food, welcoming guests and running the event, as teams compete in games of chess, draughts and dominoes.

“We’d love it if local businesses took part in the tournament, as individuals or as team,” said Corrina. “The event will help the school to build links with local businesses, and it’s an opportunity to make a real difference to Hill Top School’s sixth form pupils, as they prepare to move on from the school.”

Gateshead Games Galore takes place from 10am on Tuesday 20 June at Callendar Court extra care housing scheme near Wrekenton.

Businesses can register for a place at www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/gateshead-games-galore-tickets-644395834287 or by emailing [email protected].

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Your opportunity to shape careers education for students in the North East

By Denis Heaney, Enterprise Adviser Hub Lead at the North East Local Enterprise Partnership


It is quite common to hear employers expressing concerns that young people joining the workforce don’t have the skills businesses require, and recognise a disconnect between the skills they acquire through school, college and universities, and those needed by the world of work.

Thankfully, things are changing. There are more opportunities for industry to work in partnership with academia to influence curriculum development, provide workplace experiences, and educate young people about the careers opportunities available to them.

One of the most successful approaches has been the creation of the Enterprise Adviser Network; a group of passionate and dedicated business leaders that work with schools and colleges to bridge the gap between education and employment, and work with teachers and young people to deliver quality careers education.

Here in the North East, we currently have 191 business leaders in our Enterprise Adviser Network, but we’re looking to boost that number and partner more industry professionals with local schools and colleges.

One of the most common questions I get from businesses when speaking to them about joining the Enterprise Adviser Network is, ‘how much of my time will it take?’ Well the good news is, no matter how much, or how little, time you have available, we can make it meaningful. I think employers often underestimate the positive influence they can make by engaging with education. It doesn’t matter if it’s 1% of your time or 100%, the support we offer ensures your time is impactful.

Being an Enterprise Adviser is about bringing like-minded people together to make a difference in education. And how people choose to do that can be very different.

We’ve had Enterprise Advisers join the Board of Governors to influence at a strategic level, and we’ve also supported Enterprise Advisers to consult on careers programmes in schools. Some Enterprise Advisers have provided a mentoring role to teachers and students, whilst others have helped deliver curriculum-based projects. Whilst the pathways have all been very different, the end result is always the same; better careers education for students, which leads to better outcomes. 

An increasingly popular area of support is improving teachers’ understanding of industry by providing time in the workplace. Teachers – along with parents/guardians – are the biggest influencers when it comes to careers guidance. By helping teachers better understand the local economy, they are more equipped to connect learning to the world of work.

Our job at the North East Local Enterprise Partnership is to ensure the engagement businesses have with schools and colleges is as much about meeting business needs, as it is improving career outcomes for students. Employers have the opportunity to influence what teaching looks like, and how the curriculum can deliver the talent and skills they need to fill the jobs of the future.

I very much see the Enterprise Adviser Network as the vehicle for industry to engage with education.

If you or your business would like to find out more about joining the Enterprise Adviser Network and inspiring the next generation about the amazing career opportunities the North East, we’d love to hear from you. You can complete an Expression of Interest via our website – www.northeastambition.co.uk – or email [email protected].

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Career pathways for shortage roles

A new resource to boost skills in the region’s health and life sciences sector


Health and Life Sciences – Career pathways for shortage roles is a new resource designed to help:

  • Businesses working in the region’s health and life sciences sector address skills shortages for key roles
  • Education and training providers develop industry relevant curriculum
  • The wider industry grow and thrive in the North East.

It has been developed in response to the publication of the North East Health, Life Sciences and Medicines Manufacturing Strategy, which aims to double the number of jobs and businesses in the health and life sciences sector by 2030.


What is Health and Life Sciences – Career pathways for shortage roles?

A free online resource for businesses working in the North East’s health and life sciences sector, Health and Life Sciences – Career pathways for shortage roles outlines the basic and essential skills needed for six key roles where a shortage of appropriately skilled candidates has been identified. The six key roles are:

  • Analytical Chemist
  • Process Engineer
  • Software Engineer
  • Quality Assurance Manager
  • Lab Technician
  • Project Manager.

What help and support can businesses access?

Employers can see the education and training routes available in the region to allow them to grow talent into the six specific roles, including:

Education and training

  • Apprenticeships
  • T Levels
  • Further education.

Uptake of apprenticeships and other vocational qualifications is very low in the health and life sciences sector.

The resource uses existing good practice and occupational maps from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) to identify better ways to utilise apprenticeship funding and advancements in technical education to develop talent into the six key shortage roles.

Education contacts and courses

Businesses can access information on local education contacts as well as training and courses relevant to each role.

Case studies

Employers can also read case studies about local employers who have successfully adopted the education and training routes outlined in the resource to increase workforce development.


What support is available for education and training providers?

Insight to develop an industry relevant curriculum

In addition to supporting employers in the region with recruitment challenges, the new resource also provides information on skills shortages in the sector, which education and training providers can use to inform the development of an industry relevant curriculum and inform young people about career pathways into in the sector.


How do I access the resources?

Visit the Health and Life Sciences – Career pathways for shortage roles resource.

Visit the North East Health and Life Sciences Sector Careers Toolkit.