FEATURE
“ We change lives – and that ’ s the part that makes me tingle .”
She left to run a project for Cleveland Constabulary , building four police stations . It propelled her into dealing with all aspects of major project management and proved to be invaluable experience for her next challenge – the relocation of Middlesbrough College .
Today , under her leadership , the campus represents £ 100m-worth of investment , employing 1,000 staff and serving 13,000 students annually . Courses are offered in all economic sectors and at all levels – including A-levels , T Levels , vocational courses and apprenticeships – with a particular focus on STEM subjects .
With courses closely mapped to local economic sectors , most students are engaged in engineering , science , health , education , transportation and construction subjects .
At the request of local employers , and with government support , a new university centre opened recently as part of the North East Institute of Technology , enabling the college to expand its offer of HNC , HND , degree and even master ’ s courses in technical disciplines .
In 2019 , the college saved the TTE Technical Institute from administration , and plans were recently unveiled to relocate it to a new £ 10m technical and green energy centre in 2024 .
Coupled with the physical expansion of the campus , Zoe is also rightly proud of the college ’ s long-standing employer partnerships . A decade ago , it employed only one person to engage with employers . Now there ’ s a team of more than 40 , supporting almost 2,000 apprentices and businesses annually .
The college also works closely with inward investors , such as Hitachi Rail , Anglo American , and Amazon , supporting them with a range of services , including appointments , skills assessments , staff development , apprenticeships and training .
The current priority is supporting the skills needs of the burgeoning digital sector . To support this , government funding has been secured for a new digital centre , featuring courses that include cyber security , networking , visual effects , film and media , software development , digital marketing and games design .
But what gives Zoe most pride is the vital dual-purpose role the college fulfils . As well as making a sustained impact on the local economy , it supports harder-to-reach people , including the long-term unemployed , single parents and asylumseekers .
She cites the example of a boy called Liam , who arrived without GCSEs in maths or English . He started a construction course , gained confidence and was sponsored through a degree by an employer . Now a quantity surveyor , he returns to the college to inspire others .
An asylum-seeker called Adam was another notable success story . While working as a college cleaner , he took a
car maintenance evening course . His teacher encouraged him to do the full motor vehicle course , followed by a mechanical engineering degree . He now maintains a manufacturing plant in Darlington .
Across the campus , the Adult Community Learning Centre , opened at 2 Queen ’ s Square in 2018 , doubles up as a collection hub for toys , clothes and books for those in need . “ We give disadvantaged people hope ,” says Zoe . “ We change lives – and that ’ s the part that makes me tingle .”
But her influence is also being felt beyond the Tees Valley , with several roles on regional and national bodies . They include chairing a quality and accountability group and being an adviser on the Principals Reference Group that tests education policy nationwide .
“ If I can use my experience to influence better national policy , while also making a difference on my home patch , then that ’ s what I want to do ,” she says .
She describes the economic conditions facing the country in the wake of Covid and Brexit as “ the perfect storm ”, with people reassessing their priorities , many working from home and others returning to Europe .
“ Fewer people are entering the workplace , more people are leaving it and we ’ re in a period in which there ’ s a natural decline in 18-year-olds . That means everyone is short-staffed , so employers need to be more creative and take more chances on people .”
However , she concedes that the core reason talent is being lost from the area is because there simply aren ’ t enough highquality jobs here – yet .
Zoe reflects : “ There ’ s a clear willingness and ambition , the building blocks are in place , but there is much still to achieve and a great responsibility on the Teesworks site to deliver the 13,000 jobs it has planned to replace , in part , the tens of thousands of jobs lost from that area in recent decades .”
Zoe saw first-hand the impact this loss of jobs had on friends and family , and so she remains as passionate as ever on ensuring that Middlesbrough College keeps evolving to give local people the right skills for the jobs now and in the future .
“ For all we ’ ve achieved , there ’ s still a lot we need to do ,” she says . “ And the day I have no ideas will be the day I hang up my boots .”
22 | Tees Business