First class skills
North East England has a long tradition of manufacturing and advanced manufacturing in the automotive sector and associated supply chain. This has created a productive, innovative and highly skilled workforce with low staff turnover rates and competitive salary levels.
With more than 110,000 in manufacturing roles across the region, around 69,000 of those are specialist workers in advanced manufacturing businesses and over 30,000 in the automotive sector.
Skills are embedded within our electrification industry-led ecosystem, providing leadership at both regional and national level. The network is collaborative and highly responsive to changing demands, new technologies and innovation.
A pipeline of talent
There is a comprehensive skills provider base in the region, with industry-engaged universities and a college network that delivers sector-focused higher education (HE) and further education (FE) vocational skills to the manufacturing sector. The education and skills network works hand in hand with industry and business to develop and deliver bespoke training courses.
Local colleges and universities offer over 300 advanced manufacturing-related courses, many of which are integrally linked to the prospective job market.
Over 124,00 students in the North East at the region’s five universities, with over half studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects.
Key initiatives in the North East include:
- National Battery Training & Skills Academy (NBTSA) – Designed to support the UK’s growing battery manufacturing industries across all levels of education by delivering hands-on training, skills and qualifications in battery manufacturing. The National Battery Training & Skills Academy is a collaboration with Newcastle University and New College Durham, and is funded by The Faraday Institution. It addresses identified industry skills gaps, ensuring operators, technicians, engineers and managers have the correct skills now and in the future.
- The Institute of Electrification and Sustainable Advanced Manufacturing (IESAM) – Newcastle University IESAM is helping to grow PEMD skills across North East England by supporting curriculum development and providing access to high quality training for those looking to pursue careers in electrification or sustainable advanced manufacturing – including technical skills and advanced and higher degree apprenticeships.
- MADE NE (Manufacturing, Automation, Digitalisation, Electrification North East) – Led by Nissan with regional partners, the £14.7 million MADE NE project will create world leading training facilities for the future of the automotive sector. Supported by £9.7 million from the North East Combined Authority, MADE NE will provide open access facilities to industry for skills training in the region’s advanced manufacturing sector, with a particular focus on EV and battery manufacturing. It covers skills development from primary school to apprenticeships, to in-work learning and training. The centre will also support targeted industrial innovation projects with funding and equipment.
Gateshead College and Nissan – Case Study
Nissan and Gateshead College have a longstanding relationship for the training and development of staff at its Sunderland Plant. Over recent years, the two organisations have worked together to develop the Gateshead College Skills Academy for Sustainable Manufacturing and Innovation (SASMI), Zero Emission Centre of Excellence (ZECE), and through the college’s lease of the test track at Nissan Sunderland Plant for the Zero Carbon Futures Performance Track for the low carbon vehicle industry.
