Efforts to prepare South Tyneside workforce for 7,000-job International Advanced Manufacturing Park (IAMP) and new South Shields Nexus training centre

Preparing South Tyneside’s workforce for two major employment opportunities is the focus of a new investigation by town hall chiefs.
Artist's impression of IAMP overhead view looking southArtist's impression of IAMP overhead view looking south
Artist's impression of IAMP overhead view looking south

Now South Tyneside Council chiefs are to investigate the best ways to prepare the borough’s workforce to ‘take advantage’ of the schemes – including ensuring older workers who have been made redundant and school pupils are skilled up for the future.

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The proposed special commission, which had its terms of reference agreed by the council’s Education and Skills Panel on June 26, is expected to take evidence over four sessions and deliver a report by summer 2020.

Work starting on the new Nexus Learning Centre last year.Work starting on the new Nexus Learning Centre last year.
Work starting on the new Nexus Learning Centre last year.

Paul Baldasera, strategy and democracy officer, said: “This is a natural step to looking in more detail at how the school landscape meets the employment landscape and that everything across the range of school provision and colleges and businesses are aligned together.”

The commission is expected to hear evidence from businesses, education providers and individuals living and working in South Tyneside.

The sessions will cover:

Support in schools and national education priorities

Post-16 opportunities, including further education and apprenticeships

The needs of businesses and employers

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Support for individuals, including older workers or those who have been made redundant, seeking retraining or new skills

It is thought the £41million IAMP, next to the existing Nissan car plant up, could provide more than 7,000 jobs.

Work started on the £8.4million Nexus Learning Centre in July 2018, which will provide a training base for engineers and drivers, and allow trains to be held in South Shields overnight, meaning Metro services south of the Tyne can start earlier.

Coun Gladys Hobson said: “All children aren’t academic and we need the skills we’re missing.”