News Archives - Page 8 of 68 - North East Local Enterprise Partnership

Helen Golightly, Chief Executive of the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (North East LEP), outlines how the organisation’s role is set to evolve.

I began working for the North East Local Enterprise Partnership 10 years ago and have been the chief executive for the past seven.

When I started, we were a small team of six people and now we are a team of more than 60 people. Every day, I am incredibly proud of the rigour, commitment and sheer determination of our team, partners and communities who come together in the best interests for the North East to achieve amazing things, whatever the circumstances.

People who have more commitment, passion and drive than I’ve seen before. People who strive to secure investment and improve skills, job opportunities and purposeful business support across the North East to improve the lives of others, because they want to do the right thing for a region that is so special to us all.

I believe that what we have achieved has been possible because our strategic direction has always been clear through an evidence-led, strategic economic plan to create more and better jobs for our region.

In the past 12 months alone, as we emerged from the pandemic, independent assessors have stated that leadership, influence, synergy and engagement are areas in which the North East LEP has excelled through the delivery of the Strategic Economic Plan. Independent assessment of the Local Growth Fund and Enterprise Zone programmes to date have indicated good to very good value for money in line with national benchmarks for these programmes.

Some highlights over the past 12 months are that we have supported over 23,000 business, with a customer satisfaction rate of 98%. We provided evidence to the House of Lords Select Committee on Youth Unemployment and have focused particularly on our primary schools to think about careers advice from an early age. It was also a privilege to host the launch of National Careers Week 2022 here in the North East – the first time outside London – as our good work was recognised.

We are committed to embedding innovation challenges as a way of proactively looking for solutions to global problems and opportunities. We continue to deliver significant capital projects across the region, and this year we will launch a new Commercial Property Investment Fund with FW Capital.

Strategic direction is what keeps our ship steady during times of change. And the next 12 months will undoubtedly bring more change for not just the LEP, but for wider regional governance as our local and combined authorities works towards securing greater devolution powers and funding to the region.

The role of the North East LEP within that process has been made clear to us. Government’s Levelling Up White Paper was published in February 2022 and provided details about the outcome of a review of the future role for all Local Enterprise Partnerships. It states that there is a strong role for LEPs moving forward to continue to focus on economic development activities with our partners, and as greater devolved powers are secured, Government want LEPs to transition into Mayoral Combined Authority and/or County Deal structures to ensure continued regional focus and alignment.

For us this clarification has been welcomed.

The revised role for LEPs is to:

Represent the business voice – collaborating and engaging with, listening to and feeding business views into national and regional policy and investment decision making
Lead strategic economic planning – taking the regional lead to develop and coordinate research and economic evidence around the North East economy to inform regional strategy and decision making
Improve skills – working to ensuring North East residents of all ages have the opportunity to develop skills that match the opportunities in the labour market
Grow businesses – supporting businesses to start, grow and thrive and to create an environment where they can learn from each other to create more and better jobs
Manage funds – continuing to manage the region’s Enterprise Zone funding and other funding streams already secured by us to invest in strategic projects which will grow the regional economy

Our 2022/23 delivery plan reflects this new remit. But it also captures the added value that our Local Enterprise Partnership offers. The Strategic Economic Plan has been the blueprint for regional economic development for almost a decade. It is a 10-year plan that is due to conclude in 2024 and we are committed to this and to demonstrating the impact that it has made.

We have changes in national funding through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Levelling Up funds to help partners navigate, devolution agendas to support and a Levelling Up agenda to pursue. The North East LEP is exceptionally well placed to play a central role in supporting and guiding partners through this process as we continue to create more and better jobs together for our region and our delivery plan reflects that.

Change can bring challenge but it always brings opportunity. As ever, we remain proud ambassadors for the North East business community and continue with our mission to create more and better jobs, so everyone has the chance to thrive.

A new study has shown that up to 80,000 skilled workers will be needed in the North East and Yorkshire if the UK is to reach its net zero target by 2030.

How the region can meet this demand and what opportunities will these roles bring for people in the North East? Anthea Pratt, Skills Programme Manager, and David Lynch, Energy Innovation Partnership Manager at the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (North East LEP), explain.

What’s the research that’s been carried out and why was it commissioned?

David: As we know, the UK aims to decarbonise homes by 2050. That means we need to decarbonise around 20,000 homes a week – at the moment, that’s the number we’re achieving in a year.

It’s clear we need to plug this gap and get more people into the energy sector, working on retrofitting properties with low carbon technologies like heat pumps. So what we wanted to do for the North East is make sure we’re in a place to capitalise on this opportunity, and to do that we need to understand the types of skills that will be required, what training we’re currently providing and how we can meet any shortfalls.

What has emerged from the assessment?

David: That it’s a huge opportunity.

Post-pandemic, we’ve seen some sectors retract, and people have been burnt by experiences of redundancy or insecure employment. Whereas energy is a sector that’s growing and the need for this very large number of skilled workers presents a huge opportunity for people in the North East.

Anthea: And if we’re to bring new people into this sector to fill future vacancies, we need the colleges, universities, training providers and assessors in place. These come first.

What kinds of skills are going to be needed?

David: It’s not just skills like installation and manufacturing, it’s also things like digital skills and data analytics. We’ll need people who can work as advisors, helping people make the right choices for their individual property and helping them to navigate the financial side of things.

Anthea: One of the skillsets that needs to increase the most is painting and decorating. We currently have 320 people with painting and decorating skills working in domestic retrofit and that will need to increase to 14,000. People might not think of this as a skill needed in the green economy but we need to change that perception.

What’s going to happen now, to make sure these opportunities are made available for people in the North East?

Anthea: We’ve created a 10 year action plan and are putting it in place now. We’re working with training providers to scale up training provision in our region. We’ve already been awarded £2.4 million to deliver green skills boot camps and in addition to this we’re testing new types of training provision – new qualifications and new ways of delivering them. We’ll be able to share more about this very soon.

David: As well as training provision, we need to think about how we attract people to these roles – both young people entering the workforce, and older people who might be looking to retrain or move from another area of work. Can we give them the confidence they need in the energy sector and help them feel excited about working in a role which will genuinely improve people’s lives?

Working in this sector, you can help people avoid debt and fuel poverty. You can help make sure people have warm, dry homes. It’s about social equality and I’ve seen how this work can change people’s lives.

Details of the Domestic Retrofit Skills Needs Assessment are available on the North East Evidence Hub. The assessment was commissioned by the North East LEP and the North East and Yorkshire Net Zero Hub.

A new study has shown that up to 80,000 skilled workers will be needed in the North East and Yorkshire if the UK is to reach its net zero target by 2030.

Commissioned by the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (North East LEP) and funded by the North East and Yorkshire (NEY) Net Zero Hub, the Domestic Retrofit Skills Needs Assessment examined the types of skills that will be needed to decarbonise homes in the region, and the opportunities this presents for the area.

David Lynch, Energy Innovation Partnership Manager at the North East LEP, explains: “The UK government has laid out its Net Zero strategy and it’s clear that, if we’re to meet its targets, we need to get more people into the energy sector, working on retrofitting properties with low carbon technologies like heat pumps.

“We want to make sure the North East is ready to capitalise on any opportunities this presents – like a surge in skilled jobs – so with funding and support from the NEY Net Zero Hub, we commissioned this in-depth assessment of the skills which will be needed.”

The Domestic Retrofit Skills Needs Assessment focused on skills needed in retrofitting homes with low-carbon technologies. It identified the main types of job roles which will be needed – including designers, installers, advisory and procurement roles – and the current and projected market sizes.

NEY Net Zero Hub Manager, Karen Oliver-Spry, said: “Having delivered a £53 million programme of housing retrofit across the North East and Yorkshire, the Hub is aware that there are huge opportunities for skilled workers and supply chains to help decarbonise homes in our region. It was important to gain a detailed understanding of this need so that we can support organisations to take the necessary steps to realise the ambitions of the area.

“This study provides valuable insight and will help organisations to make informed decisions about how to allocate resources at a time when every penny counts.”

The study also looked at Further Education colleges in the North East and their current and planned training provision in these areas.

“As we know, the UK aims to decarbonise homes by 2050. That means we need to decarbonise around 20,000 homes a week – at the moment, that’s the number we’re achieving in a year,” added David Lynch.

“While this is a huge task, it’s also a huge opportunity. Post-pandemic, we’ve seen some sectors retract, and people have been burnt by experiences of redundancy or insecure employment. Whereas energy is a sector that’s growing and the need for this very large number of skilled workers presents a huge opportunity for people in the North East.”

Based on the findings of the study, a 10-year action plan has been created by the North East LEP, laying out how the region can scale up its training provision, support people to upskill, and promote the new opportunities that are emerging in the energy sector.

The North East LEP has been awarded £2.4 million to deliver Green Skills Bootcamps across the region, providing the opportunities for people to develop the skills needed in the green energy sector.

Details of the Domestic Retrofit Skills Needs Assessment are available on the North East Evidence Hub (evidencehub.northeastlep.co.uk).

Eight new industrial workspace units are being created on the Hownsgill Industrial Park in Consett following investment from government’s Getting Building Fund.

When complete, the new modern employment sites at Bessemer Court are expected to create up to 100 jobs as new businesses move on to the site.

Built on the grounds of the former Consett Steelworks, Bessemer Court is already home to four fully let units. The expansion of the industrial park aims to support the creation of more SME businesses in the area, help existing SMEs to grow, and increase jobs and employment opportunities for local people.

Mike Clark, Director of Project Genesis Ltd (PGL) – the development company managing the regeneration of the former steelworks site on behalf of the Genesis Trust – said: “The ongoing redevelopment of Hownsgill Industrial Park is helping to bring new investment into Consett, create new jobs in growing sectors in the North East, and create opportunities for existing businesses in the area to expand, sustaining and growing the local economy.

“There is strong demand for new high-spec industrial units in County Durham and we expect Bessemer Court to provide a boost to the local economy as more businesses arrive on site.”

£448,000 from government’s Getting Building Fund was awarded to Project Genesis Ltd to enable essential infrastructure and remediable works to be carried out before construction of the eight new industrial workspaces could begin.

The Getting Building Fund was established early in the coronavirus pandemic to kick-start the economy, create jobs and help areas realise growth opportunities coming out of the coronavirus pandemic. The North East Local Enterprise Partnership is managing £47m awarded through the Getting Building Fund to support capital investment across the North East.

Helen Golightly OBE, Chief Executive of the North East Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “Despite wider economic challenges, we are seeing continued demand for smaller workspaces that provide the right environment for growth.

“The targeted investment from the Getting Building Fund Commercial Property Pilot scheme has helped with the construction of the new industrial units here at Bessemer Court and across the region following the coronavirus pandemic, meaning the North East is now well placed to meet the needs of businesses and support future job creation.”

Hownsgill Industrial Park has been identified as a strategic employment site and key to the continued economic growth of Consett and County Durham.

When complete, the new units at Bessemer Court are expected to create 100 new jobs and support around eight apprenticeships and training opportunities. Follow-on PGL and other private sector investment is expected to reach £1.9m.

For more information about Bessemer Court on Hownsgill Industrial Park visit youngsrps.com.

For more information about the Getting Building Fund and the North East Local Enterprise Partnership, visit www.northeastlep.co.uk.

Four projects in the North East have received funding from the North East and Yorkshire (NEY) Net Zero Hub to help power renewable energy schemes in rural communities.

Humsaugh Net Zero CIC; Haltwhistle Partnership; Norham Community Energy Project; and Smart Connected Renewable Community Energy have all been awarded funding from the Rural Community Energy Fund (RCEF), a £10 million national programme which supported rural communities to develop renewable energy projects.

As Andrew Clark, Energy Sector Lead at the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (North East LEP) explains, the four projects have received funding left over from underspend in other parts of the country: “RCEF actually came to an end in October 2021 but, due to the fact that the North East has shown a strong demand from communities for developing renewable energy projects, we were able to secure this extra funding from underspend elsewhere in the country.”

The funding is managed by the North East and Yorkshire Net Zero Hub, and the North East LEP supported with the allocation of funding to projects in the North East.

Humshaugh Net Zero CIC has been awarded £67,000 to develop a solar PV electricity generation facility to be ready to build in 2023. Solar PV was identified in the RCEF 1 Phase 2 study as a viable solution following a comprehensive independent review of low carbon energy generation options for the Parish of Humshaugh.
Haltwhistle Swimming and Leisure Centre secured £53,320 to enable the completion of all necessary pre-development work needed to progress with their work into utilising heat from water flowing through underground mines to contribute to heating their pool, which could potentially provide heat for adjacent sites.
Norham Community Energy Project was provided with an additional £34,973 to employ a qualified and experienced consultancy to investigate the community energy requirements, research the local renewable energy generation opportunities, and advise on the relative feasibility of the options available.
And Smart Connected Renewable Community Energy (CAN) received £94,060 to progress the installation of solar panels and associated battery storage at 19 community buildings which were surveyed during stage one of their project using funding from their initial RCEF award.

NEY Hub Manager, Karen Oliver-Spry, said “It’s great to see such interesting, varied and beneficial projects being supported by the NEY Net Zero Hub. There is so much potential for communities to take control of energy in their localities to make it greener, more sustainable and more affordable for local people. These are brilliant examples which I hope will inspire others to try something similar.”

Andrew Clark added: “Community energy is a key theme in the North East Energy for Growth strategy, which lays out how we will drive economic growth in our region while also delivering on national energy objectives – such as reducing carbon emissions and bringing forward innovative new energy technologies.

“The funding of these four projects means that rural communities in our region can take one step further towards reaping the benefits of renewable energy while creating positive economic outcomes here in the North East.”

Find out more about the RCEF and funded projects at www.neynetzerohub.com and read the North East LEP’s research on next steps in community energy, produced in partnership with the North of Tyne Combine Authority, Durham County Council and South Tyneside Council, here.

Two new state-of-the-art flexible workspace buildings are currently being built on the AirView Park development in Woolsington following a £944k investment from government’s Getting Building Fund.

Strategically located next to Newcastle International Airport, AirView Park aims to grow the number of businesses in the North East involved in international trade and attract inward investment from startups and SMEs keen to take advantage of the region’s global trade links.

When complete, the two workspaces that form part of Phase Two of the development will have the potential to support up to 100 new SMEs and provide the flexibility for businesses to expand and grow, creating more local jobs and providing a boost to the North East economy.

The £944k awarded to developer Tynexe Commercial Ltd from the Getting Building Fund ensured essential infrastructure works could be delivered during the coronavirus pandemic and construction of the new employment sites could continue.

Helen Golightly OBE, Chief Executive of the North East Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “By responding to the changes brought about by the pandemic and creating office space that meets the needs of businesses both now and in the future, the new developments at AirView Park have already generated a lot of interest.

“By focusing Getting Building Fund investment on key strategic sites like AirView Park, the North East LEP is helping to create the right environment for businesses to grow and create more and better jobs in the region.

“The development’s location next to Newcastle International Airport also supports the North East LEP’s ambition to increase the number of North East businesses that export goods and services from 6% to 9.5% by 2030.”

One of 21 Enterprise Zones sites across the North East, AirView Park aims to create more SME businesses focussed on growing and maximising trade and inward investment between North East England and the rest of the world. It also aims to attract UK or global companies looking to build or establish a strategic northern base, as well as fully support organisations wishing to take advantage of new and existing export routes.

The North East Trade and Export strategy – published in 2021 by the North East LEP, North East England Chamber of Commerce and Department for International Trade – showed approximately 4,500 businesses in the North East region (North East LEP and Tees Valley Combined Authority areas) currently export goods and services. Businesses in the North East LEP area that currently export goods and services typically generate over £15bn of revenue from exporting each year.

One of the new buildings will provide a dedicated Business Support Hub for North East SMEs, offering a physical service centre for export expansion. All key exporting services and resources will be co-located at the Hub, creating a launch pad for businesses to begin international trade.

The second building, Denyer Court, will offer multiple leased office units or a single occupancy HQ building.

Mike Clark, Director of Tynexe Commercial Limited, developers of AirView Park, added, “We are delighted to have the full support and backing of the North East LEP as the allocated grant funding has enabled us to progress the site at pace, delivering a high quality scheme to meet market demands at a time when needed.

“We are already receiving enquiries from potential new occupiers, some operating in emerging and fast growing industries, so we are very confident that Phase Two and AirView Park will become a key site for Newcastle and the wider North East economy.”

Mark Hunt, Chief Financial Officer at Newcastle International Airport, said: “The Airport provides multiple daily connections to some of the largest airport hubs across Europe and the Middle East, seamlessly connecting businesses in the region to the rest of the world. AirView Park is a prime site that provides a lot of opportunity for growth, export links and inward investment. We are very much looking forward to the completion of the scheme and welcoming the companies that choose to locate there.

“Global trade relations are key to the continued growth of the North East, and as we begin to see a way out of the economic downturn, our export links with countries like Pakistan are very important. Collaborations and strategic partnerships linking local companies with those overseas can help deliver a stronger recovery and so Newcastle International Airport, as a gateway to international markets, very much supports discussions like this with potential trade partners.”

Newcastle City Council’s Cabinet member for Resilient City, Cllr Alex Hay, who has responsibility for jobs and the economy, said: “AirView Park is going to be an important generator of jobs being so close to Newcastle International Airport – the main gateway to the region.

“The construction of these two buildings will form a key part of that development and provide a further boost to the local economy once they are filled with small to medium-sized businesses, so I warmly welcome them.”

When complete, AirView Park will offer 175,000 sq ft of bespoke offices, tailor-made to suit businesses looking to relocate to more cost effective out of town premises. AirView Park is already home to the national headquarters of Bellway Homes plc.

The two new state-of-the-art flexible workspace buildings supported by the Getting Building Fund are due to be completed by the end of the year.

For more information about AirView Park visit www.airviewpark.co.uk.

Find out more about the Getting Building Fund and the other funding programmes managed by the North East Local Enterprise Partnership.

A new training hub has been created in North Tyneside, providing courses in social care, catering and hospitality for people who are currently unemployed.

YMCA North Tyneside’s Employment and Skills Academy in North Shields is equipped with a café and kitchen where people can gain work experience, and a living space fitted with mobility aids, so people can learn about working in a social care environment.

Funding from the North East Local Enterprise Partnership’s (North East LEP) Local Growth Fund VCSE Capital Grant programme enabled the conversion of YMCA North Tyneside’s existing space into this new hub.

As Darren Mayne, YMCA North Tyneside’s Head of Enterprise and Commerce explains, four people have already gone on to secure jobs in the YMCA North Tyneside café and building, after completing training: “The creation of our new training hub means that we can now work in partnership with North Tyneside Council to offer training, free of charge, to people who are seeking work, and we’ve already offered jobs to four of our most recent trainees.”

The new training hub was officially launched this week and is now welcoming learners from North Tyneside and beyond.

Donna Brown, who now has a job in the YMCA North Tyneside gym, said: “Looking back, I’m grateful for having had the opportunity to do the course. If I hadn’t done it, I’d have been stuck in a rut and unemployed, doubting myself with no motivation to work. It happened just at the right time – I’d come out of a long-term relationship and wanted to better myself for me and my kids. I’m so glad I took the opportunity while it was there.”

Claire Johnson, who now works as a café assistant, said: “I am so glad I came on the course now as I was hesitant at first but I’ve loved every minute of it. I love working in the cafe, the staff are all lovely and make you welcome.”

The Local Growth Fund VCSE Capital Grant programme also supported the refurbishment of the YMCA’s Young People’s Hub, which is now a welcoming space for people to drop in and access computers and AV equipment.

Carol Botten, North East LEP board member and CEO of VONNE (Voluntary Organisations’ Network North East), said: “Over the last year we’ve seen the hub develop and it’s wonderful to hear that people are already benefiting from it and going on to secure roles in catering and hospitality.

“As the region recovers from the impact of the pandemic, we know that spaces like this one will play a central role in creating stronger, more resilient communities in the North East.”

Dean Titterton, Chief Executive at YMCA North Tyneside, added: “Part of our role here in North Tyneside is giving people the opportunity to access training that will help them gain new skills and hopefully progress on to employment.

“We can now see this training in action, and look forward to supporting many more people to gain work in catering, hospitality and social care.”

Find out more at www.ymcanorthtyneside.org.

The North East Local Enterprise Partnership’s chief executive, Helen Golightly OBE, has commented on today’s regional labour market statistics, released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Today’s release includes quarterly data for the North East region (for the period February to April 2022). The region includes the North East LEP area and Tees Valley.

Helen Golightly OBE, chief executive of the North East Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “The data released today paints a slightly more positive picture than the last month with an additional 10,500 people in employment. We have seen improvement in the employment rate across the country and it’s encouraging to see the North East moving at a slightly quicker rate than the national average in this period.

“Older and younger men and women of all ages were the groups who re-entered the labour market during this quarter.

“We should however approach this month’s data with caution as the labour market remains volatile as the economy faces significant challenges with large increases in inflation and the cost of living continuing to rise. It is likely that these factors will have an impact on the labour market in months to come and we must continue to monitor these changes closely and respond accordingly.”

Young people who took part in six-month traineeships in Northumberland have shared their experiences of gaining skills in conservation, land management and woodland maintenance.

The trainees took part in Groundwork North East’s Green Futures programme, which was part-funded by the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP)’s Local Growth Fund VCSE Capital Grant programme, which aims to help communities across the North East recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Overall, more than 50 young people aged between 16 and 24 have taken part in training and volunteering, gaining skills that will set them up for future careers in the ‘green economy’. Five of the young people completed six-month paid Kickstart traineeships, working at two sites: Pegswood Moor Country Park and Pegswood Community Woods, near Morpeth, Northumberland.

Here, they share their experiences of the Kickstart placements:

What made you decide to apply for a Kickstart traineeship at Groundwork North East in Northumberland?

Ethan M: “I was unemployed after my A levels and I started volunteering at Groundwork NE as I am interested in conservation and wildlife. So I applied for the Kickstart job.”

Will: “I liked the idea of helping wildlife and being outdoors, I had worked in a primary school as a lunchtime assistant for two hours a day, this involved serving food, supervising the children and writing up first aid incidents. Before that I was at college doing art, design and animation and then I decided I wanted to get into more physical outdoor work.”

What has been your favourite aspect of the programme?

Dale: “For me, the opportunity to get qualifications in tree surgery and related land qualifications. I don’t think I could have got them otherwise as I have been trying for seven years. But between living, rent and food there wasn’t enough…I have really enjoyed being part of the Kickstart Team working alongside other young people at Groundwork in Northumberland. I’ve learned about conservation, protecting wildlife and also gained some really valuable qualifications including tree surgery.”

Ethan M: “I enjoy working with the team – I had only worked in a team in college so now I am more familiar being in a team in a workplace. Everything you do carries everyone in the team so it’s important that no-one is doing less than anyone else.”

What have you learned through the Green Futures Kickstart programme about sustainable practices which protect the environment?

Ethan M: “We learned about the biology of the trees in Pegswood Country Park which used to be an open cast mine. There has been a lot of storm damage, due to the poor, shallow soil, it is not enough for the roots to grow deeply. We planted thousands of wildflowers in the meadow plantation and we have also done crown lifting of trees to improve light and sightlines which helps deter anti-social behaviour. We have removed blackthorn – they are invasive as they will grow through paths so they need cleared.”

Will: “We have learned all about pruning and lopping techniques, how to saw and what to prune or not prune so that trees don’t get diseased. We have been doing crown lifting to allow more sunlight to come in and let the smaller trees grow better and to allow clearer pathways so everything is not packed together.”

What has it been like being part of a team of Kickstarters?

Ethan M: “This was my first time in a working environment, it’s been a great experience and especially useful for me to work in a team on a regular basis.”

Will: “It was good to get an idea of what it is like in a work environment and working with different people, I have not really experienced that. At Groundwork we have worked with people doing different jobs so this has included working in the country park and with local community groups who partner with Groundwork.”

Can you talk about the individual projects you have worked on and give some examples of the practical skills you have achieved?

Curzon: “I used oak to make a rustic bench as a feature in the park, it would have cost a fortune to buy it and we used wood that would otherwise have rotted. Working with the Ashington Woods Community Group, one of the Friends, Dennis, has an Alaskan style saw mill which we learned how to use…It took a lot of force to push it and I learned how to keep it straight and keep the chainsaw steady. These skills have been great to learn.”

Will and Ethan: “We are going to make more benches as when Groundwork have talked to local people, it is important for them to have spaces to have a rest. We are going to find out where they would like these in the park and then make and install these as part of our project. It will form an accessible route around the park.”

What has it been like working with Groundwork North East staff?

Will: “I’ve become much more familiar with daily tasks, knowing what to do with each task so I can be more independent when getting ready to work on jobs around the park. Doing things more independently is a good feeling and it makes me feel confident about my job.”

Have you enjoyed getting involved in sessions with volunteers and the wider community?

Ethan M: “We worked with volunteers at the pit heap, the community woods volunteers and school children who volunteer form a local school regularly. It was sad after Storm Arwen as the Friends of Pegswood Woods were devastated that there were hundreds of wind blow trees. One of the volunteers, Jean, was in tears.”

Dale: “We worked with Barry, the Tree Officer for Northumberland County Council and Groundwork NE, to help clear the area.”

Do you think your job and employment prospects have improved as a result of your training at Groundwork NE and the Green Futures programme?

Dale: “Gaining qualifications for my CV and having a good job will really help. I have talked to some local employers, it makes it more enticing to hire you. The companies have some commercial projects coming up so they will contact me when spaces become available and I am also looking for jobs. I’d be really happy if I don’t have to move away.”

What advice would you give other young people seeking opportunities?

Dale: “Even if it’s not a job you might be interested in give it a shot.”

Ethan M: “Volunteering paved the way absolutely for me at Pegswood Country Park, it definitely helped me to get onto this programme. I would say keep looking for opportunities and don’t give up.”

Category: News

Moving forward with a refreshed role but the same commitment and determination to create more and better jobs

In conversation: how the North East can meet the demand for thousands of new, skilled workers

Decarbonising homes set to bring tens of thousands of skilled roles to North East and Yorkshire

Getting Building Fund supports creation of new industrial workspaces in County Durham

North East communities awarded further funding for development of renewable energy projects

Getting Building Fund support sees expansion of AirView Park Enterprise Zone

New training hub launched in North Tyneside to equip people with workplace skills

North East LEP reaction to ONS regional labour market statistics

Young trainees share their experiences of gaining conservation, woodland and land management skills