PROFILE
THE AIM IS TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THE PRIORITIES OF THE TEES VALLEY, WORKING CLOSELY WITH EMPLOYERS TO SOLVE THEIR SKILLS CHALLENGES AND DEVELOPING SPECIALISMS IN PRIORITY AREA.”
Latin expression et cetera is“ indicative of progress and what’ s coming next” – and there are always new demands to meet as the Tees Valley economic landscape evolves.
“ We want to be bold, with lots of stakeholder engagement, so we can continue to build on what’ s been achieved,” says Grant.
“ We want to engage with businesses because everything we do has a line of sight to opportunities, employment and improving life chances. We can’ t do that without partnering with local employers who need a talent pipeline.
“ But it’ s also important that we retain our tone of voice. We’ re not brash – we’ re quietly confident. We do what we say we are going to do. And we don’ t give promises we can’ t keep. It’ s a tone of voice that feels very Teesside.”
Examples of business partnerships include bp’ s innovative scholarship in renewable engineering. On the back of its success, Tees Valley Combined Authority is supporting an extension of the model, as Net Zero Industry Scholarships, across all Tees Valley colleges.
Outside of his immediate responsibilities as CEO,
Grant is chair of the National Energy Skills Consortium.
He also passionately believes in education leaders supporting good causes. As well as serving as a trustee for Teesside autism charity MAIN, he is“ immensely proud” to have recently been asked to become honorary colonel of Cleveland Army Cadets.
“ It’ s amazing to see the young cadets learning citizenship and employability skills – it ties in so well with what we are doing,” he explains.
The group also has a volunteering initiative called Time for Tees, which enables staff to give some of their time to support a range of good causes.
It all adds up to a busy and rewarding professional life, but Grant loves nothing more than being at home with Míša and their 10-year-old daughter, Constance. The Teesside tone of voice may be important at work, but he’ s also dedicated 30 years to learning to speak Czech, with a typical determination to go on improving.
In what spare time he has left, he’ s a devoted runner – having completed an impressive 25 marathons – and a keen musician, playing drums and guitar.
When it comes to banging the drum for Teesside, Grant Glendinning and his team at the Education Training Collective are on a roll – with a strategy built on ambition, local pride, engagement, empowerment, collaboration, investment etc.
And, as the abbreviation suggests, there’ s more to come.
The voice of business in the Tees region | 19