The first trainees have stepped through the doors for Mayor Kim McGuinness’ new £250m adult skills programme, marking the official launch of one of the region’s most ambitious training offers in decades.
The Adult Skills Training Programme is designed to boost job opportunities in, tech, foundational roles and the fast growing green economy as well as construction and manufacturing.
It comes as scores of skills providers across the region open their doors to adults seeking new opportunities and fresh starts.
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Part of McGuinness’ New Deal for North East Workers, the £80m+ year investment promises to create clear pathways into jobs in the region’s most in demand industries.
Announced at the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority’s March cabinet meeting, the programme will transform adult skills training by ensuring the right training is available to the right people, in the right places, at the right time.
The launch follows an unprecedented process of consultation and collaboration between the North East MSA and colleges, training providers, local authorities, employers and VCSE organisations to shape the best way forward.
McGuinness said: “I said we’d change the way we deliver adult skills training in the North East, and now we’re doing just that. Every bit of our new skills investment is focused on one thing – helping people move from training straight into proper jobs in our growing industries.
“That could be in the green economy, digital and tech, in the foundational jobs we all rely on so much, like nursery teaching or working in a shop, pub or restaurant, or in the construction roles we need to build the homes of the future. Support is there for people to get the skills, confidence and fair chances they deserve.”
The new programme is designed to tackle longstanding skills shortages while ensuring residents can benefit from the region’s expanding clean energy and innovation sectors. It will also strengthen the foundational economy, including health, care, logistics and community services.
Support will be targeted at adults with low qualifications, people facing health barriers, women entering technical fields, care-experienced young adults and those seeking to progress in work.
The plan is built around three strands of support: Skills Foundation for essential skills and confidence; Skills Activation for technical training and apprenticeships; and Skills for Work for employer designed courses leading directly to jobs.
McGuinness said the programme is central to her mission to make the North East “the home of real opportunity.”
“My message is this: if you’re looking for a fresh start, we’re here to back you. If you’re an employer, we’re building the skilled workforce you’ve been asking for. And if you’re a training provider, you’re central to making sure people get the right skills for real jobs. This programme is about making sure no one is left behind.”
By 2029, the MSA expects to see higher employment rates, more people progressing into better paid roles, and a stronger pipeline of skilled workers for key industries. The programme also aims to reduce economic inactivity and widen access to training for communities that have historically been underserved.
