North of Tyne Combined Authority (NTCA) has funded a two-year Apprenticeship Hub pilot to help young people get jobs. It will connect young people in Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland with opportunities for apprenticeships and workplace training.
Launched this week, the Apprenticeship Hub will be rolled out to middle schools, secondary schools and six form colleges across the region from the autumn term. It will give students a platform to showcase their talents to potential employers and create connections to apprenticeship opportunities. This pilot is a response to the challenges of declining apprenticeship take-up nationally which indicates that young people have been hit hardest by the economic impact of the pandemic.
Cllr Karen Kilgour, Cabinet Member for Education, Inclusion and Skills said: “We are investing in our young people. We want to help them make the best decisions for their futures and get the skills they need to thrive in work. Our new Apprenticeship Hub will ensure that apprenticeships are easy to access for all young people right across the region, in Newcastle, Northumberland and North Tyneside. This is an important part of our ambition to secure good jobs with fair living wages for young people and everyone in the region.”
The NTCA Apprenticeship Hub is one part of NTCA’s ambition to increase the skills that the North East economy needs to grow and thrive. Young people will access the Apprenticeship Hub via their educational institution. All schools, colleges and sixth forms who would like to offer this opportunity for their students can contact hello@myglobalbridge.com to find out more, as can employers who would like to promote their apprenticeship vacancies.
NTCA is committed to removing the barriers which make it difficult for people to take up employment and training opportunities. This pilot marks an important step toward delivering this goal. Find out more about apprenticeship programmes and opportunities open to people living in the region at https://www.northoftyne-ca.gov.uk/projects/apprenticeships-employment/
NTCA aspires to increase opportunities through Further Education in the region, through its existing work on funding Adult Education, commissioning Kickstart opportunities and the roll out of Youth Employment Partnerships. For information about any NTCA programme go to https://www.northoftyne-ca.gov.uk/ or contact andrew.gladstone.heighton@northoftyne-ca.gov.uk