TEESWORKS
Recruitment drive – a ‘ meet the employer ’ event organised by Teesworks Skills Academy .
Teesworks is giving them this huge opportunity – ‘ stay local , go far ’ – with excellent employment prospects right on their doorstep .
have been instrumental in these efforts , helping to support the Skills Academy and working closely with companies coming on to the site .
Teesworks chairman Chris Musgrave said : “ The Skills Academy is crucial to the success of Teesworks .
“ Companies need access to people with the right skills and training so that their developments on the site can thrive while people in the local area are able to take advantage of the fantastic career opportunities available here .
“ The academy enables both goals to be achieved and we are delighted with the great progress it has already made in such a short time .”
Neil Young , Teesworks Skills Academy development manager , explained : “ Teesworks Skills Academy is here to develop and build on what is already out there so that a young person currently at school can stay within the Tees Valley and have a fantastic , fulfilling career right here .
“ Teesworks is giving them this huge opportunity – ‘ stay local , go far ’ – with excellent employment prospects right on their doorstep .
“ This is something that has been missing from the area for a long time – we want to be in a position where people feel they don ’ t have to leave the area and go away for work .”
For businesses , the academy can help at every stage , from supporting companies in accessing available funding sources through to providing training and mapping future skills needs .
The Teesworks Skills Academy partners collectively offer more than 300 training courses which are aligned with the current Teesworks scope of works – ranging from one-day essential
licence-to-operate courses to degree level programmes , HNCs , HNDs and apprenticeships ranging from Level 1 through to Level 4 and 5 higher apprenticeships .
Employers are already working with the academy on a range of training and skills programmes even while their operations at Teesworks are still taking shape .
Two of the development site ’ s key companies – energy giant bp and offshore wind company SeAH – have already set up apprenticeship programmes with local training providers at Etc ., Middlesbrough College and Hartlepool College .
Twelve welding and plating apprentices are already on the SeAH apprenticeship programme through Hartlepool College with a further 12 welding and plating apprenticeship at Hartlepool and four mechanical / electrical apprenticeships at Middlesbrough College starting in September for the 2024 / 25 academic year . bp ’ s scholarship programme is currently going through its final recruitment phase from which 10 male and 10 female candidates will be chosen for a two-year programme covering all aspects of working for the energy giant and based out of Redcar & Cleveland College , part of the Etc . group .
In addition to developing skills for companies operating from the Teesworks site , the Skills Academy is also working with companies building facilities on the site , including the likes of construction company Balfour Beatty , on training and skills needs for their current and future workforce .
“ At the earliest opportunity when we have got an interest from a company to invest in the site , we try to have the skills conversation because it is so important ,” explained Neil .
“ Companies understand that we are here to support them , whether that ’ s with recruitment , skills or training .
“ We need to understand what their jobs are and then we work with providers to see what courses and training they can provide so we can service the needs of those companies .”
The Teesworks Skills Academy team is keen to spread the understanding of the vast opportunities the development offers as early as possible .
Neil said : “ We ’ re already doing school visits and we want to put in place a schools programme in the local area so young people are aware of Teesworks and all these industries on their doorstep at the earliest possible stage .
“ I think it ’ s important to reach out to young children as early as eight years old with the vast career options coming to Teesworks and making these sessions fun and enjoyable .
“ We then continue the journey as these young people transition into secondary education , enabling them to make the right subject choices in Year 9 to support their career aspects , followed by employability skills throughout Key Stage 4 on to post-16 .
“ There is so much more than just hard hat and high vis here – the opportunities are immense and we want to bring those to the people of this great area .”
Visit teesworks . co . uk .
The voice of business in the Tees region | 59