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North East region launches its own data hub

The North East Local Enterprise Partnership and North East Combined Authority have joined forces to launch a brand new website that provides live data on the performance of the North East economy and transport infrastructure.

The North East Data Hub – www.northeastdatahub.co.uk – is a one-stop-shop for the latest statistics on the regional economy and North East transport trends.

Launched to coincide with the publication of the North East LEP’s first, annual, ‘Our Economy’ report, The North East Data Hub uses live data from the North East transport and economic authorities to give a real-time picture of how the region is performing.

Victoria Sutherland, Senior Economist at the North East LEP said: “We, along with many of our partners, collect a lot of data about the North East region. By sharing this detailed information we can support residents, businesses, policy makers and other regional bodies to use the data to help grow our economy. 

“The North East Combined Authority, Traffic and Accident Data Unit (TADU), Urban Traffic Management and Control (UTMC) and Nexus are all partners of the project and have helped create the most comprehensive data resource in the North East; one that’s open to all and free to use.”

In addition to providing live data about regional transport and the economy, The North East Data Hub also has a comparison tool, allowing users to analyse data further against a range of different metrics.

Cllr Iain Malcolm, Leader of South Tyneside Council and North East Combined Authority Thematic Lead for Economic Development and Regeneration, said: “It’s important we track our progress as a region and the The North East Data Hub allows us to do that.

“We collect a host of data, everything from bus and metro usage to traffic flow and average vehicle speed. This helps us paint a picture of the regional transport system and how it must adapt over time. Combining that with economic data from the North East LEP, we have created a valuable resource for the region.”

The North East Data Hub has been designed to make all regional data available for public view and analysis. It launches on the same day the North East LEP publishes its ‘Our Economy’ report, which tells the story of the North East economy.

As new data becomes available it will be uploaded to the website providing an up-to-date picture of the North East economy and transport activity.

For more information, visit www.northeastdatahub.co.uk.

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North East Ambition is blazing a trail at National Careers Week 2018

As National Facilitator: Careers Education for the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), it’s a privilege to attend the launch of National Careers Week in London today (Monday 5 March) and to address the National Careers Guidance show in Leeds on 8 March.

Both events give me a great opportunity to share the amazing progress that has been made by schools and colleges across the North East LEP area in relation to implementing the eight benchmarks of ‘Good Career Guidance’.

I can’t overstate the importance of high quality careers education and guidance; empowering young people to explore their futures and make informed decisions about the routes and pathways they wish to take.

Careers education is vital for social mobility, but it is also an economic necessity – supporting our young people to progress through education and training into more and better jobs.

Spreading the word

Of course a key question is how we ensure that each and every young person knows what options exist for them.

How can we expose them to a range of workplaces, education and training establishments and how can we help them develop the professional networks that will help them progress?

The answer is by providing superb careers guidance within schools and colleges.

National Careers Week gives us a fantastic opportunity to share and celebrate the brilliant things that our schools, colleges, businesses and enterprise advisers across the region are doing to implement our North East Ambition programme.

With over 130 schools and nine Further Education colleges all working towards achieving the benchmarks and over 120 business leaders signed up as enterprise advisers, we truly are leading the way – providing meaningful encounters for thousands of young people and providing innovative solutions to traditional problems.

We’ve been practicing what we preach at the North East LEP, by hosting work experience placements for sixth form students; offering extended placements for Special Educational Needs and Disability students; networking with Enterprise Advisers; delivering presentations in schools and developing projects between educators and business leaders that can be delivered within and beyond the classroom.

Events, activities and case studies – please get in touch!

Whether you are running an interactive careers fair, providing work experience, bringing employers in to support curriculum delivery or you’re a teacher spending time in industry – we want to shine a light on the great work that you are doing.

If you have any exciting activities and events planned, please let us know by emailing [email protected] or tagging us @northeastlep and we’ll share the information on social media. There is also the potential to profile your work as a case study on our website.

Please don’t forget to use the official hashtag #NCW2018 when you tweet and also tag us @northeastlep  #NorthEastAmbition

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North East LEP ONS Regional Labour Market Statistics reaction

North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Senior Economist Victoria Sutherland gave her reaction to today’s regional labour market statistics.

“Today’s statistics for the North East are mixed. We are disappointed to see that employment has fallen by 15,000 over the quarter. However, employment growth has been strong over the year as a whole with 25,000 more in work than a year ago and the North East having experienced the largest improvement in its employment rate of any region in the UK.

“Unemployment has declined over both the quarter and the year, with 21,000 fewer individuals’ unemployed than a year ago. We are particularly pleased to see that the North East’s unemployment rate has continued to decline over the last quarter given that it has increased across the UK.

“The decline in employment and unemployment in the North East over the last quarter has been offset by an increase in economic inactivity. Individuals can be economically inactive for a wide range of reasons including that they are in education, have health issues or disabilities that prevent them from work, have caring responsibilities or have retired.

“The number of working age people (16-64) that are economically inactive has increased by 15,000 over the quarter, although it has decreased by 8,000 over the year.

“The North East LEP will continue to work with its partners to deliver the Strategic Economic Plan’s ambition of more and better jobs and to help local residents to connect with available employment opportunities.”

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Education Challenge Project Manager appointed

A project manager has been appointed to support the delivery of a ground-breaking education programme.

Neil Willis will lead the North East Local Enterprise Partnership’s Education Challenge.

The role will see Neil spearhead the Next Generation Learning project, which aims to reduce the gap between the region’s best and lowest performing secondary schools and improve social mobility in our young people.

Neil brings extensive experience to the role, having spent 16 years as a science teacher and in senior leadership in secondary schools in the North East.

In 2016, he began working across schools as an Education Consultant, developing projects including STEM-specific provision through the National STEM Centre, teacher training and CPD, faculty improvement and school improvement.

Over the past two years, Neil has been involved in North East Futures University Technical College (UTC), which saw him build a significant amount of partnerships with regional industry to enrich the curriculum and bring industry into the classroom.

Newcastle University graduate Neil said: “I am very excited to play a part in shaping the education landscape and driving change through the LEP’s Education Challenge.

“Building on the success of Gatsby Foundation’s Career Benchmarks, the Education Challenge will support teachers, schools, governors and leaders to integrate careers learning into the curriculum to ensure those entering the workforce in the future have the skill level to support our diverse economy and are fully aware of the progression routes available to make this happen.”

The appointment comes after the North East LEP area was selected by Ford Next Generation Learning and The Edge Foundation as the first area internationally to translate elements of the successful ‘Academies of Nashville’ model to the UK.

The Academies of Nashville model transformed attendance, attainment and progression by placing employers and business partners alongside teachers and school leaders to develop highly personalised approaches to progression.

The Next Generation Learning project aims to replicate this success.

Michelle Rainbow, Skills Director at the North East LEP, said: “The North East is leading the way when it comes to implementing outstanding careers provision within education.

“Neil brings with him vast skills and experience, which will be a great asset to furthering the aims of the Education Challenge. We are delighted to welcome him to the team.”

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North East LEP to publish first, annual ‘Our Economy’ report

The North East Local Enterprise Partnership (North East LEP) will unveil its first annual ‘Our Economy’ report at Sage Gateshead on Tuesday 6 March 2018.

Presenting an overview of the North East economy and how it is changing over time, the new report will become an important resource for government, policymakers and businesses operating in the region.

Andrew Hodgson, Chair of the North East LEP said: “It’s important we track our progress and monitor our economic performance so we position the North East to take advantage of future developments, including those arising from the Government’s recently published Industrial Strategy.

“Our annual review of the North East economy will ensure we remain on track to deliver the refreshed Strategic Economic Plan and reach our aim of creating 100,000 more and better jobs by 2024.”

As well as providing a comprehensive look at the regional economy, ‘Our Economy’ will also look, in-depth, at a topical issue affecting the North East. In 2018 that topic will be ‘the North East in the global economy’.

Victoria Sutherland, Senior Economist at the North East LEP said: “We’re bringing an expert panel of speakers together from business, education and government to discuss the importance of international relations and what the North East needs to do to build stronger international links going forward.

“Our keynote speaker will be a North East business already trading internationally, and they will share how other regional businesses can follow in their footsteps.”

Our Economy 2018 – with insights into global connections, takes place at Sage Gateshead on Tuesday 6 March from 08:30-11:00. Places are free but must be booked in advance using the Eventbrite form

-ENDS-

 

 

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Funding available for business incubator space

The North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) is inviting Expressions of Interest from incubator projects which match the strategic aspirations set out in the Strategic Economic Plan (SEP) and the innovation programme with significant potential to make a demonstrable contribution to the incubator network within the region.

Projects must demonstrate clear links to the SEP and be able to provide a clear and coherent programme of business incubation support.

We anticipate that the North East LEP will be asked to fund around 50% of the capital costs of the (re)development incubator space (subject to State Aid). The maximum grant available through this fund will be £250,000 of capital.

Prospective applicants, who can be from public, private or voluntary sector, are encouraged in the first instance to read the Project Call Information document which can be found along with other supporting information on our funding page.

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North East partners agree key messages for the Brexit negotiations

As Brexit discussions continue, we have been working with key regional partners to revisit and restate the region’s priorities.

The North East Brexit Group brings together key networks representing businesses, education, trade unions, local authorities and voluntary organisations.

Its purpose is to ensure that opportunities and concerns are identified and communicated consistently and that advice and support is given to North East businesses and residents as the detail of changes emerges.

The consensus remains that:

  • The North East is, and should, remain an open economy able to continue to strengthen trade, attract investment and secure skills
  • The outcome of the negotiations must deliver a strong ongoing relationship with the European Union
  • The UK needs to develop new policies in a number of areas which will replace and improve on resources and regulations which are currently derived from the European Union.

Although many of the issues set out in the statement of key messages are relevant to other places in the UK, the North East Brexit Group believes the impact on the region could potentially be greater as a result of:

  • The sectoral composition of the North East, with particular reference to Digital; Advanced manufacturing; Health and life sciences; Subsea, offshore and energy technologies; as well as education, key services and transport.
  • The North East being a leading exporting region within England, with exports to Europe making an unusually large proportion of its economic activity. Over 140,000 North East jobs are dependent on EU trade alone.
  • The importance of inward investment to our economy – the North East is one of the leading locations for inward investment outside London, with a larger than average proportion of North East jobs being in internationally owned businesses.
  • The structure of our labour force – ensuring that the region’s future growth objectives needs workforce needs to be met, in particular the North East needs to retain access to skilled migrants and international students.
  • Our geographical location as a result of potential competitive disadvantages if Scotland develops more favourable tax, regulatory, trade or immigration policies.

As a collective we will continue to circulate these key messages within the region and more widely to national and regional bodies. We will also be carrying out detailed work looking at different dimensions of the Brexit debate.
Anyone seeking more information on our work to date can find more detail here.

Richard Baker, Head of Strategy and Policy, North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

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North East LEP seeks new board member

As Chair of the North East LEP, I head up a board of talented representatives from the region’s private, public and education sectors. Alongside the Leaders and Elected Mayors from each of our seven local authority areas, the board members help to guide the strategy and direction of the North East LEP.

We’re now seeking a new board member who has the passion to help us drive forward the Strategic Economic Plan (SEP) for the region, bringing economic growth to the North East.

It’s an exciting time to join us here at the LEP, as we continue to make progress towards our target of adding 100,000 more and better jobs to the region’s economy by 2024.

Already, since we launched the SEP three years ago, we’ve added more than 55,000 new jobs to the regional economy and we believe that, working together with the wider business community, we can achieve our ambitious targets for growth.

Our board members are champions for the region and we are fortunate to have some of the North East’s leading figures in business and education already working with us. Their experience, insight, and belief in the North East is vital to our work.

This is a truly exciting opportunity for a representative of the region’s private sector to join the board and we are looking forward to welcoming a new member to play an active role in supporting the economic growth of our region.

So if you have a detailed understanding of the challenges and opportunities which face us here in the North East; proven business experience and a strong insight into a range of business sectors; and the commitment to help us bring more and better jobs to the region, then we want to hear from you.

Board members are appointed for an initial term of three years, with the option to serve up to six years. This non-executive post is not remunerated. A detailed job description can be viewed here.

To find out more about the opportunity, contact Jim Allcroft at NRG on 0191 260 4483 / 07968 862 638 or by email to [email protected]

 

Andrew Hodgson, Chair, North East LEP

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North East LEP ONS Regional Labour Market Statistics Reaction

North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Senior Economist Victoria Sutherland gave her reaction to today’s regional labour market statistics.

“We are pleased to see that employment continues to grow across the North East region. Today’s data shows the number of people in employment has grown by 34,000 over the last year, with 11,000 more people in work over the quarter.

“Once a quarter we get more detailed statistics than in other months and today is one of those occasions. These additional data show that there has been growth in service sector jobs of 24,000 over the year. Within that, we are particularly pleased to see growth in the information and communications sector, which includes many of the region’s digital companies, and growth in professional, scientific and technical activities.

“We are also pleased to see that the manufacturing sector, which has always played a critical role in the North East economy, has grown, with 8,000 more jobs over the year.

“We are continuing to see unemployment decline. Our unemployment rate is now 5.2%, compared to 6.8% last year. This is the largest decline in the unemployment rate of all English regions over the year.

“The number of people unemployed is down 7,000 over the quarter and 20,000 over the year.

“There has been growth in both full and part-time workers and across both employee jobs and self-employment. This is different to the national picture, where self-employment has fallen. We have seen a decline in the number of workers with second jobs and the number of people in temporary jobs. Combined, these suggest that demand for labour is growing.

“The North East LEP will continue to work with partners to ensure individuals have the skills to take up the opportunities being created by the North East’s employers.”