Clockwise from left, Michael Spriggs of UK Land Estates, Gateshead College principal David Cheetham, Malcolm Armstrong of the Collective and Gateshead councillor Catherine Donovan.
Construction is underway on a new multi-million pound Skills Academy on Tyneside to provide employers and learners with some of the best facilities in the region.
The £6m Skills Academy, on Team Valley, is part of a regional drive to establish a world-class education and learning infrastructure to boost regional economic growth. The new Gateshead centre will offer vocational learning with facilities for a wide range of work-based courses.
Due to open in spring 2008, the new site will provide learning amenities for more than 1,500 students and is the result of a unique partnership between seven leading training providers known as the Collective together with the Gateshead Education Improvement Partnership.
The Collective, which will be based at the Skills Academy, is a collaboration between Access Training, Gateshead College, General Physics, ITEC North East, NEETA, Rathbone and TDR Training. The venture will provide enhanced training facilities for vocational qualifications, apprenticeships and tailored courses for local employers. The Skills Academy will also house the Gateshead Education Improvement Partnership 14-16 Skills and Enterprise centre for school pupils wishing to take a practical vocational course.
By working with local employers, the Collective is able to offer a comprehensive range of work-based learning opportunities. Some of the apprenticeships currently offered are accountancy, administration, construction, electrical, plumbing, engineering, manufacturing, hair and beauty, information technology, sport, health care and motor vehicle.
Collective Chairman, Malcolm Armstrong said: “The new Skills Academy is excellent news for the North East. As a centre dedicated to vocational learning, the academy will house fantastic facilities for a wide range of apprenticeships, NVQs and foundation degrees”.
“The Academy will provide a base for the Collective so that young people can have access to a consortium of training providers all under one roof.
“Employers will also reap the benefits of having a one-stop-shop for all of their training needs.”
Gateshead College’s dedicated construction facilities will also be housed in the new Skills Academy, offering students hundreds of full and part time courses, including joinery, plumbing, carpentry, electrical installation, brickwork, plastering, gas servicing and repair, and painting and decorating.
Funded by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) and One NorthEast through the TyneWear Partnership, the landmark campus is being developed by UK Land Estates.
Chris Roberts, regional director LSC North East said: “The LSC has invested millions of pounds in capital in the region's further education colleges to ensure the North East has inspirational, world-class buildings in which learning and skills development can support regional economic growth.”
The academy will integrate vocational learning, work-based learning and further education and will host the North East Centre of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) in Business and Management.
One NorthEast head of Skills and Europe, Lesley Calder, added: “The Skills Academy will help the region prepare the next generation of skilled workers and I am delighted that all of the partners associated with this project have come together for the benefit of young people.”
