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Region hosts visit from USA education experts as schools prepare to adapt next generation learning

A delegation of education experts from Ford Next Generation Learning in the USA is visiting schools in the North East, as the region prepares to become the first place outside America to implement a new model of learning that has transformed the way in which young people learn and achieve across Nashville and more than 30 other school districts.

During their visit, the group will be meeting students and teachers at Newcastle’s Excelsior Academy, Churchill Community College in Wallsend and Norham High School in North Shields, as well as senior leaders from the CBI and the North East Local Enterprise Partnership.

Michelle Rainbow, Skills Director at the North East LEP, said: “In 2005, a number of secondary schools in Nashville implemented what is known as The Academies of Nashville model. It’s a style of learning which places employer engagement at its heart, helping students to gain skills and experience that will equip them for the world of work.

We are working closely with schools and businesses in the USA to adapt elements of this model for the North East, with the ultimate aim of creating closer links between our schools and business community and helping young people make a successful transition into their careers.”

The Academies Nashville model resulted in an almost 23% rise in high school graduation rates since 2005, and significant improvements in attainment, discipline and attendance.

The model has since been successfully adopted by more than 30 US school districts and now the North East has been selected to be the first place outside the USA to translate the model internationally.

This week’s visit is part of a knowledge exchange which saw representatives from the North East LEP and three North East schools travel to Nashville earlier in the year, along with colleagues from education charity the Edge Foundation, which is leading the project, and Ford Next Generation Learning.

In the Academies of Nashville model, as well as studying core subjects, students enter a ‘Career Academy’ within their school. In the ‘Academy’ all learning is set within applied contexts and students can complete courses which relate to specific sectors which they are interested in, from engineering to healthcare, as well as work-based placements and projects with employers.

More than 350 businesses are partnered with the Academies of Nashville, and teachers spend time  completing ‘externships’ – placements in industry directly working with an employer and developing cross-curricular projects for use in school.

Olly Newton, Director of Policy and Research at the Edge Foundation said: “We seek out leading educational models from around the world that help really prepare young people for success in their lives and careers.

Building on the fantastic work that the North East has already done on the career benchmark pilots and learning from the Academies of Nashville, we will help create a transformational model here that motivates young people by connecting their learning directly to the world of work. This will be an inspiration to schools across England and beyond.“

Craig Taylor, Excelsior Academy Executive Principal, said: “Excelsior Academy is delighted to welcome our friends from Nashville to learn more about the importance we place on careers provision and partnerships with business to give our students the best possible start to their working lives. We are proud to work closely with the North East LEP as part of the Gatsby Foundation Careers Benchmarks pilot programme, putting best practice in place within Excelsior Academy.

Michelle Rainbow added: “This is a valuable opportunity for us to share best practice and work collaboratively with our peers in the USA. They have shown that the Academies of Nashville model can dramatically improve students’ attainment and we will be working with schools and businesses here to make sure that we adapt and implement elements of this model which could make a real difference for our young people.”

The ‘Next Generation Learning’ project is part of the North East LEP’s Education Challenge, which aims to reduce the gap between the region’s best and lowest performing schools and to target that all schools in the North East achieve ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ OFSTED rating.

The North East LEP will be working with schools to trial elements of the Academies of Nashville model from September 2018.

 

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In conversation with Andrew Hodgson: Even a small rise in productivity has a big economic impact

Boosting productivity is one of the key economic challenges of our age and is an issue the North East Local Enterprise Partnership is setting out to help tackle through the launch of a new pilot programme.

Growth Hub High Performance collaborates with senior business leaders to develop and deliver strategy and business models that drive higher levels of performance, profitability and competitiveness.

Delivered through the North East Growth Hub, the scheme will help companies learn from senior business leaders through specialist performance coaching, peer driven workshops and best practice visits.

The pilot programme supports the LEP’s pledge to create more and better jobs for the regional economy – better quality jobs being driven by better productivity.

If all businesses raise their productivity performance, even by only a little, the economic impact will be significant.

Poor productivity is holding back the growth of the UK economy as a whole and is the subject of much debate amongst business leaders, Government ministers and economic analysts.

A landmark recent report by Sage and Nesta into small and medium-sized businesses in the UK, mapped entrepreneurs at a local authority level for the first time.

‘The State of Small Business’ showed a postcode lottery in productivity levels – with SMEs in the most productive local authority in the UK 26 times more productive than those in the least.

Such a patchwork of performance is not good news for a national economy ranked the least productive of the G7 nations.

If businesses are not helped to be more productive then their profit margins will be squeezed, they therefore can’t pay people more and living standards will fall.

Companies become less competitive and less profitable which ultimately slows both business and economic growth.

Greater productivity is a challenge set down in the region’s Strategic Economic Plan as one that the North East must meet as a priority to bridge the widening gap we have with the UK’s productivity level as a whole.

Helping companies to become more productive is widely recognised as being a catalyst for economic growth, higher wages and greater competitiveness.

To tackle this challenge, the North East LEP is working with the industry lead Productivity Leadership Council, chaired and formed by Sir Charlie Mayfield in 2015.

Businesses learn best from other businesses so our approach in the new Growth Hub High Performance programme is structured around best practice sharing between peers.

It will introduce participants to exemplar firms from across the region, as well as providing access to the practical tools and techniques that can be used to implement improvements.

The programme is structured around the key drivers of high performance such as future planning, leadership, talent development and the adoption of digital technology.

The High Performance programme isn’t for everyone; it’s specifically aimed at senior leaders from businesses with between ten and 50 employees. Critically, participants must have a strong desire to transform their company’s performance and be prepared to dig deep and fully participate in this short yet challenging programme.

It is structured around four, full day, peer driven workshops which begin next month.

For more details go to www.northeastgrowthhub.co.uk

 

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Paul Watson, Leader, Sunderland City Council and Vice Chair, North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

Comment from the North East LEP Chair, Andrew Hodgson.

“Paul was a true advocate for the North East and it is with sadness and thoughts for his family that we pay tribute to the huge contribution he has made to the North East over his years in public service.

“Paul was committed to improving the social and economic wellbeing of the region, working tirelessly with the North East LEP to realise the ambitions within our Strategic Economic Plan and play his part in creating a better future for the people of the North East.

“He believed in creating opportunities for all, be it in accessing education to improve skills or focussing on job creation , particular in advanced manufacturing for the region. He wanted people to achieve their personal ambitions in life to support themselves, their families and future generations.

He had a passion for the North East and the city of Sunderland, continually striving to improve the lives of the residents and conditions for businesses.

“ Paul worked tirelessly throughout his illness and will be sadly missed by his fellow board members, the Executive Team at the North East LEP, and me on a personal level.  Our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time.”

 

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Incredible in India

Earlier this year I shared my personal experiences of the significant and substantive opportunities open to UK businesses in exporting to India and why every business with growth ambitions should consider doing so. This topic has become even more important given the various Brexit considerations.

India is the second largest country in the world by population, the world’s largest democracy and the largest English speaking nation in the world. Recording an annual average growth rate of 7.5% from 2004 to 2013, India’s economy is now growing faster than China’s. The country’s economy is set to exceed the size of the UK economy in the next few years and is forecast to be the 7th largest economy in the world by 2019.

India’s new government is committed to pursue economic growth and initiatives including “Make in India”, “Digital India,” “Skill India” and “Smart Cities” have created a positive business environment with a number of business growth opportunities.

Over the past 12 months, the Federation of Asian Business (FAB) has developed meaningful and practical relationships with organisations in India and particularly with the state of Karnataka. FAB have organised a trade visit supported by the North East LEP, Northern Powerhouse and Department for International Trade (DIT) for the end of November. Offering a unique opportunity, the visit will enable organisations and businesses to explore first-hand the incredible prospects of expanding into India that everyone should consider as part of their business growth plans.

Meeting with Ministers, educational institutes, trade bodies and businesses the visit will showcase the state of Karnataka with the ambition of developing bi-lateral trade and civic relationships with the North East of England. Earlier this year I had met with Ministers and various officials in Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka, where the people reminded me of the North East –friendly, hospitable and passionate. I was astounded at the level of development, technology and infrastructure that existed, with Industrial Strategies having been developed back in 2003, which has led to a significant economic boom.

Everyone that I met was keen to develop action orientated relationships that have subsequently flourished and translated into real trade activities.

Given that English language is widely spoken, the legal system is the same as ours and the significant ease of doing business, alongside the support from FAB in ensuring that the trade visit provides tangible results, now is the time to explore incredible India and help your business grow.

There is a FAB India Awareness Session organised at the SME Centre of Excellence, Newcastle Business Clinic on November 3. To register your interest, email [email protected].

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Join the North East LEP Investment Board

We are looking for three passionate, well-connected business people from across the area to join the Investment Board.

The North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) is committed to driving economic growth, delivering more and better jobs for the North East as set out in our Strategic Economic Plan (SEP). To do this, the business-led, partnership brings together the private sector, local authorities and university and college representatives to deliver against six strategic programmes: innovation, business growth, skills, employability and inclusion, economic assets and infrastructure and connectivity.

To deliver the ambitious agenda set out in the Strategic Economic Plan, several programmes of investment have been established and must have a business- and commercial- focus and invest in the strength present in the North East.

We are looking for three passionate, well-connected business people from across the area to join the Investment Board who are willing to volunteer their time and input their specialist knowledge and expertise to ensure effective investment decision making. Specifically at this time we are looking to appoint three external technical advisors relating to:

• Corporate Finance
• Property Development
• Investment / Access to Finance

If you have the drive, passion, business insight, skills and experience at a senior management or board level in any one of these areas and significant awareness of the North East economy we would love to hear from you. To find out more or apply, click here.

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Andrew Hodgson to stand down as CEO of Soil Machine Dynamics Ltd

Andrew Hodgson has announced today that he will be standing down from his role as CEO of Soil Machine Dynamics Ltd (SMD). He will continue as Chair of the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Board.

Andrew said: “Stepping down from SMD is a pivotal moment for me and I’m looking forward to the new opportunities that are ahead.  I remain fully committed to championing the region on behalf of the North East LEP.

“Since joining the LEP Board in 2011 and becoming the Chair in January 2016, it’s been a privilege to work with the LEP and its partners to drive forward the vision in the Strategic Economic Plan to create 100,000 more and better jobs.

Brexit and devolution lie ahead, and this will give me additional freedom to work with key stakeholders to ensure the North East economy is strengthened and we collectively benefit from both.”

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VentureFest North East – what’s new for 2017?

As the region’s fifth annual innovation event approaches, we caught up with the Innovation SuperNetwork’s Deputy Director, Estelle Blanks, to find out how businesses can benefit from attending VentureFest North East, and what’s new for 2017.

Who is VentureFest North East aimed at?

VentureFest North East brings together more than 700 people who wouldn’t usually connect with each other to inspire new ideas, solutions, and collaborations.

As well as local businesses, we welcome investors, researchers, experts, and support professionals. The whole idea is to create an exciting environment where people from all different sectors and backgrounds can explore new opportunities and learn from each other. VentureFest is aimed at any size business. Start-ups, growing businesses, sole traders, SMEs, not-for-profits, larger companies operating internationally – it’s a valuable event for anyone looking to remain relevant and competitive.

What will people get from the event?

Investing a day at VentureFest North East will get you access to advice from leading innovation experts from a range of industries who can provide practical tools and techniques to apply directly to your business. There are obviously opportunities to make new contacts and networks, but also to access new market opportunities, and get inspiration from outside your usual business sector too.
As always, we will be hosting FinanceCamp at VentureFest North East, which is a programme of preparatory workshops that lead to a series of one-to-one meetings with investors. Whether you need a £1,000 start-up load or a multi-million pound equity funding round, FinanceCamp makes it easier and speedier for businesses to get hold of the money they need to grow.

What can you expect on the day?

You can expect lively debates on topical issues affecting your business, real-life stories of innovation, practical workshops, inspiring exhibitions, speakers, one-to-one meetings with investors, and expert advice sessions.
We’ll also be working with innovation experts at the North East BIC to put on our popular Innovation Showcase, which is a very special part of VentureFest North East, and is designed to shine a light on innovative North East companies. We can’t wait for everyone to see some of the products, services and other big ideas of the region’s most cutting-edge businesses.

Why is it important that businesses attend?

VentureFest is all about exploring innovation, and innovation is a vital toolkit for a business’s survival.
Successful companies not only respond to the current needs of their organisation and customer base, but they also anticipate future trends or demands and design processes, tools, products, and services to meet these.
VentureFest is their opportunity to identify what else is out there that could help their business grow, whether it’s a connection with another company, a new product on the market, or an upcoming trend.

What’s new for 2017?

As VentureFest 2017 enters its fifth year, we continue to evolve the event in response to what businesses tell us they want to learn. This year we have some new additions to the programme such as a People’s Choice theme, which has been shaped directly by the business community. The People’s Choice agenda will be focusing on emerging technologies, and we look forward to sharing more details of that soon.

A ‘Women in Innovation’ theme will also feature throughout the conference and we’ll be tackling some core issues facing the business world and society at large throughout the day.

Our Innovation Challenges will be running throughout the event, which will be looking at how smaller companies can help businesses overcome their challenges through innovation.

We’re really excited by the new features of VentureFest North East 2017, and think it’s going to be bigger and better than ever before. We hope you can join us!

VentureFest North East is being held at St James’ Park, Newcastle, on Tuesday 14th November. Register now for free here or visit venturefestnortheast.com for more information.

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North East Ambition: Setting the careers standard across the UK

The State of the Nation 2017: Careers and Enterprise Provision in England’s Schools report published by the Careers & Enterprise Company is a great reminder of the role the North East has played in shaping careers education across the UK.

Here the North East LEP’s national facilitator for the Career Benchmarks Pilot, Ryan Gibson, talks through achievements to date and how the North East LEP has played such a central role in helping to shape this national agenda.

In September 2015, sixteen schools and colleges within the North East LEP area became the first in the UK to pilot a new careers guidance scheme, designed to equip the next generation with the skills employers need.

Launched at the LEP’s offices, The Career Benchmarks Pilot was a bold move, but one we were confident in. The programme saw the introduction of eight benchmarks for good careers guidance, with the ambition of increasing the ambitions of pupils, closing the skills gap and improving social mobility.

The Benchmarks were a huge success and a year later rolled out more widely by the Gatsby Foundation, which initiated and funded the scheme. Today’s State of the Nation 2017: Careers
and Enterprise Provision in England’s Schools report looks at how well schools have performed nationwide in 2016/17, drawing on data drawn from a self-evaluation tool for schools called Compass, a tool we played a central role in developing.

Here in the North East, we’ve a lot to shout about. At the pilot’s start, no school in the UK was achieving more than five benchmarks and 50% of schools and colleges in this region weren’t achieving any at all. Now 88% of our schools and colleges are achieving between six to eight, with every single one achieving a minimum of four.

Our schools and colleges have made rapid progress in a short period of time and have attracted international interest.

Engagement the key to success

One of the reasons the Benchmarks have been so transformational in the North East, is the high level of engagement in careers that exists here.

Take the launch of North East Ambition, which in July brought together
300 head teachers, senior leaders, careers leaders, governors and business leaders. Those present committed to supporting North East schools and colleges in adopting, implementing and achieving the Good Career Guidance benchmarks.

As part of this, 96 career leaders signed up to attend the first Regional Careers Leader Network Meeting, supported by all seven Local Authorities.

Over 120 senior business leaders have signed up to be Enterprise Advisers – working strategically with the leadership teams of individual schools and colleges, forming mutually beneficial partnerships.

We are seeing careers education locally totally transform thanks to this stakeholder buy in and strong relationships between academia and the business community.

Pioneering and sharing best practice

As the North East’s reputation for pioneering the way in education grows, so does interest in our work.

We now regularly share best practice nationally and internationally, hosting visits by individual schools, multi-academy trusts, local authorities and international foundations.

This work has produced over 100 case studies of good practice, which will be available in physical and digital form across the country in the next few months, showcasing innovative approaches to overcoming traditional issues.

North East LEP representatives are speaking at The National Careers Education Summit, World Skills UK, Royal Society’s Diversity Conference, National Careers Show, CDI National Conference and the UCAS National Conference all in the next two months.

18 leading professionals from schools and colleges in the North East LEP region have been selected to be national advocates for the career benchmarks – reflecting their outstanding practice.

Just last year I was awarded UK Career Educator of the Year by the Careers Development Institute in recognition of our leading role in this field, something I am immensely proud of.

Under North East Ambition, we have developed a range of resources to support schools and colleges in the region. These include:

  • Regional Careers Leader Network
  • Enterprise Adviser Network
  • LMI videos and supporting toolkit
  • Working Groups
  • Opportunities Bulletin
  • Career Benchmarks Audit / Action Plan Tool
  • Directory of Provision

We will continue to work closely with the Department of Education to influence and support the development of a new national careers strategy. Here, the career benchmarks have been integrated within our Strategic Economic Plan for the region, which is unique across the country, but we hope to encourage others to follow suit. The approach is equally crucial to implementing our social mobility strategy, something our Skills Director, Michelle Rainbow, is passionate about – she thrives to develop an area where we work with each and every young person and where no one is left behind.

Today’s report underlines how critical strong careers and enterprise provision is to opening up careers choices to young people and to helping our economy flourish. We look forward to continuing to play such a central part in this agenda, firmly putting the north East on the map as an exemplar in career guidance.

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Scaleup North East gathers momentum with recruitment drive

Scaleup North East, part of a drive to create economic growth, is seeking a Programme Director and five Scaleup Partners as work gets underway.

Led by the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and delivered by RTC North, Scaleup North East forms a key part of the Strategic Economic Plan, which aims to deliver 100,000 more and better jobs by 2024.
Working with NRG, the North East LEP and RTC North are looking to fill these key positions with strong leaders who have the appropriate skills and experience to unlock the potential of the North East’s most progressive businesses.

The Programme Director’s role will be to manage the multi million pound programme aimed at businesses with a turnover in excess of £500k in the last year. The Scaleup Partners will be change agents who can drive productivity and expansion.

Colin Bell, Business Growth Director at the North East LEP, said: “Scaleup North East is a really exciting programme aimed at helping entrepreneurs to scale their businesses, become more profitable and employ more people. The benefits of this are widespread; more money and jobs are created, which supports the local economy and creates competitive advantage.

“While the programme aims to engage with businesses that have the potential to grow turnover and/or profits at a rate of 20% per year over a three year period, there are also opportunities for companies with a turnover of greater than £250k with strong growth potential.”

RTC North will deliver Scaleup North East, as part of the expanding North East Growth Hub initiative. RTC has an enviable track record in delivering transformational and innovation services to scaleup businesses. The programme will operate from 1 January 2018 until 31 December 2020.

Andrew Buckley, Chief Executive at RTC North, said: “Scaleup North East is a ground-breaking programme for the region and we are proud to deliver this as a key contribution to the delivery of the region’s Strategic Economic Plan.

“Scaleup North East will create an ecosystem that increases the density of scaleup businesses in the North East by 50% by 2024, creating 6,000 additional jobs. We’re now looking for highly competent and equally ambitious leaders who can deliver these ambitious targets. We can’t wait to get started.”

Therese Liddle, CEO of NRG, the Newcastle headquartered recruitment business, said: “We see this as an influential programme helping to drive the North East economy and are pleased to be working with the North East LEP and RTC as the recruitment partner for such strategic, influential positions.”

To find out more about these roles and apply, please visit RTC North.