Tim Barrett, comments on the decision of the North East Combined Authority to award £3 million to Gateshead College

In my most recent column I indicated that while the construction sector was growing, skills was the huge challenge.

Sector attractiveness and the skills issue is one of the key drivers for CAN.

It is for this reason that I am extremely heartened by the decision of the North East Combined Authority to award £3 million to Gateshead College as part of its first wave of funding to address the critical skills gap and support the growth of the regional economy.

This new funding, which I understand is part of a £17m package for the region, will enable the college to offer free, flexible training courses to eligible individuals and at a subsidised rate to employers who wish to use Skills Bootcamps to develop their current workforce.

While this funding for the college will touch a wide range of sector training, I am delighted that construction is in the mix and course content has been designed hand-in-hand with local businesses to deliver the skills the region needs.

Congratulations to Gateshead College on the funding and also to the North East Combined Authority for the leadership and financial support it is showing in the area of skills development.

At CAN we know, at first hand, that colleges across the North East are a driving force for positive change and when they work in collaboration with an engaged and committed business community and backed by funding, the region is well placed to meet the challenges and opportunities of the future.