The development of Employment Partnerships in the three local authority areas of Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland builds on progress made by the Youth Employment Partnerships project, but with an extended remit covering residents of all working ages. The project will operate from 1 July 2022 to 31 March 2025 and supports the delivery of the North of Tyne Employability Plan.
Led by our three constituent Local Authorities – the Employment Partnerships bring together NTCA, DWP, and other public, private, and voluntary sector employability and skills providers to help close the unemployment gap by removing barriers which make it difficult for people to take up employment and training opportunities.
The Partnerships work to better co-ordinate current employability provision, maximizing effectiveness by improving collaboration, reducing duplication, as well as identifying and resolving gaps in provision. Partnership teams also engage with local employers, supporting them with their recruitment and retention needs and gathering information such as the job roles that are available and the skills and experience required to undertake them. In turn, the partnerships use this to inform projects which help residents successfully secure one of these roles and / or take steps towards their desired career.
Within each Partnership there is an Employment Partnership Coordinator and an Employer Engagement Coordinator, providing dedicated capacity to drive the local Partnerships and develop, deliver, and support activity such as jobs fairs, employer briefings, provider network meetings and other events which engage residents and businesses in employment programmes that move people into/closer to work.
Newcastle
Work and Thrive Newcastle, based centrally at Newcastle City Library, brings together employment support providers to provide tailored one-to-one support and a range of courses for local residents wanting to find work, supporting them to develop a wide range of skills and to identify suitable employment opportunities in the region.
Read more about the Work and Thrive Newcastle employment partnership.
If you are an employment support provider that wants to know more about joining the partnership, an employer with hard to fill vacancies, or a resident who wants to work but needs some support and doesn’t know where to start, visit the Work and Thrive Newcastle website here: https://workandthrivenewcastle.org.uk/
or contact:
Chris Ord, Employment Partnership Coordinator (chris.ord@newcastle.gov.uk)
Richard Oswald, Employer Engagement Coordinator (richard.oswald@newcastle.gov.uk)
North Tyneside
An Employment Partnership led by North Tyneside Council is helping North Tyneside residents prepare themselves for the world of work.
Applying for employment can be especially challenging for people who have either been out of work for some time or who are leaving education and looking for their first job. Barriers they may face include not knowing where to look for work or how to effectively sell their transferable skills in a job application or interview setting.
However, Working Well North Tyneside is bringing together employment support and skills providers via community-based hubs, to help people into work by boosting confidence, developing communications skills and introducing them to local employers.
The partnership’s most recent initiative involved a bespoke skills development course and an introduction to The Inn Collection Group – the hospitality company responsible for the opening of the newly refurbished Tynemouth Castle Inn. The course was designed with the employer’s specific needs in mind, ensuring all candidates finished having gained relevant skills and all were guaranteed a job interview with the Group.
Read more about Working Well North Tyneside.
If you are an employment support provider that wants to know more about joining the partnership, an employer with hard to fill vacancies, or a resident who wants to work but needs some support and doesn’t know where to start, visit the Working Well North Tyneside website at https://www.skillsnorthtyneside.org.uk/support/workingwell
or contact:
Aaron Wilson, Employment Partnership Coordinator (aaron.wilson@northtyneside.gov.uk)
Michael Kennedy, Employer Engagement Coordinator (michael.kennedy@northtyneside.gov.uk)
Northumberland
The Northumberland Employability Network coordinates and maximises existing employment support and skills provision, and brings residents and local employers together to help fill vacancies.
An example of this is a three week course delivered by some of the Network partners, including Bernicia Homes, Newcastle United Foundation and physical activity and wellbeing charity, Rise, as well as a range of local employers, has been designed to help unemployed people aged between 16 and 30 from Berwick move into the world of work.
By delivering the course within the heart of the community at the Berwick Sports and Leisure Centre, the partnership is making its offer more accessible and encouraging more people to take part and find meaningful employment.
Read more about the Northumberland Employability Network course in Berwick.
If you are an employment support provider that wants to know more about joining the partnership, an employer with hard to fill vacancies, or a resident who wants to work but needs some support and doesn’t know where to start, visit the Northumberland Employability Network website at https://www.northumberland.gov.uk/Economy-Regeneration/Programmes/Pathways-to-Work/Northumberland-Employment-Network.aspx
or contact:
Vicki Clarke, Employment Partnership Coordinator (victoria.clarke@northumberland.gov.uk)
Ian Coull, Employer Engagement Coordinator (ian.coull@advancenorthumberland.co.uk)
Read the Employment Partnerships Interim Evaluation Report.
Alternatively, if you have any queries or would like any further information about this project, please contact Nicola Dunn, NTCA Inclusive Economy Project Manager nicola.dunn@northoftyne-ca.gov.uk