Aycliffe Today Business Aycliffe Today Business issue 32 | Page 14

14 | Aycliffe Today Business
Steph McGovern has praised the
work of South West Durham Training.
GOLD
SKILLS
Steph McGovern celebrates
training provider’s 50th anniversary
on Aycliffe Business Park
BBC Breakfast presenter Steph
McGovern was on Aycliffe
Business Park to celebrate
South West Durham Training’s
fifth decade. Aycliffe Today
editor Martin Walker was
there...
B
BC Breakfast presenter Steph
McGovern praised the work of South
West Durham Training in preparing
the young engineers of the future
as she led celebrations for the centre’s 50th
anniversary.
The Middlesbrough-born business
journalist hailed the value of apprenticeships
to industry to her audience of employers and
past and present students and staff.
She told Aycliffe Today: “This place has
been around for 50 years – 10,000 people
have trained here, and they are vital, not just
for the region but for the whole country’s
economy.
“They’re learning the skills that we
desperately need.”
McGovern also warned businesses that
the engineering and manufacturing skills gap
is a genuine concern.
“Everyone is talking to me, asking how
are we going to get more people skilled. The
world of work is changing. Older people are
retiring and taking those skills with them, so
the skills gap is real.
“We need good training centres and a
really good appreciation of technical training
and apprenticeships.”
During SWDT’s 50th celebration,
McGovern recalled her time at Black &
Decker in Spennymoor under the Year in
Industry scheme as a teenager.
It was this placement which ultimately led
to her big break in television, as Steph won a
Young Engineer for Britain competition aged
just 19 for an injection moulding process
innovation for the firm’s garden leaf sweeper
and blower.
The award saw her invited to appear on
a TV programme about women in science,
before securing a position as a part-time
researcher on BBC’s Tomorrow’s World while
studying mechanical engineering at London’s
Imperial College.
Today Steph is the lead business
presenter on BBC Breakfast, and also hosts
BBC’s Watchdog and Shop Well For Less
programmes.
Presenting end of year awards to
apprentices, including young females, she
said: “Diversity is crucial if you want an
economy to thrive. So it’s great to see so
many young women being applauded. I
wouldn’t be where I am if it wasn’t for my
engineering background.
“I have broadcast from over 800
businesses in the UK and one of the things
they are talking about is needing the kind of
skills that this place provides. From here you
can go on to amazing careers all over the
world.”