The voice of business in the Tees region | 97
Phil Blewitt.
Ben Robinson.
Phil Blewitt, managing
director, NETA Training
Phil Blewitt is no stranger to the
demands of working in heavy
industry. It is where he has spent
most of his career, travelling the
world and honing his expertise.
Now, having returned to his
Teesside roots, he feels it’s his turn
to give something back. As managing
director at NETA Training, he can do
that by sharing his knowledge with
the next generation of up and coming
young engineers.
The priority is to turn out quality.
He believes we owe that to the
young people, to industry, employers
and to the wider economy.
He says: “That means delivering
safe, high quality and practical
engineering training and education
for young people, adults, businesses
and the diverse communities we
serve.”
The unique beauty of NETA is this
is something it has been doing for
more than four decades, turning out
new engineers and refreshing the
skills of the existing workforce.
A North Ormesby lad himself
and having served his time as an
electrical maintenance apprentice
at the former ICI Wilton, Phil is
passionate about the area and its
industrial infrastructure. He believes
NETA has its part to play in delivering
the engineering, construction and
maintenance skills needed moving
forward.
He explains: “NETA has been
delivering engineering training on
Teesside for more than 44 years. I’m
proud we are continuing that tradition
for local businesses and very proud
of the opportunities we offer young
people that will ultimately lead
them on to meaningful and exciting
careers.”
Ben Robinson, campus principal, Bede Sixth Form College
There’s good reason why Ben Robinson is
passionate about raising young people’s
aspirations in Billingham and the wider Tees
Valley.
Born and bred in the town, he wants to
help provide others with the best chances,
raise aspirations and realise that with
the right attitude they can achieve their
ambitions.
He knows to succeed in today’s
competitive jobs market it takes more than
just qualifications.
“People also need the attitude,
experience and all-round employability
skills that makes them stand out from the
crowd,” he says.
As campus principal, that’s what he aims
to deliver at Bede Sixth Form College – it’s
about offering opportunities for academic or
vocational attainment along with additional
skills valued by employers.
The priority, he says, “Is to provide an
outstanding learning environment that
inspires students to develop the resilience,
knowledge, skills and attitudes to be highly
competitive, realise their aspirations and
excel.”
At Bede, as with the wider Etc.,
partnership work is the cornerstone when
it comes to giving students the skills they
need to shine, resulting in programmes
such as the Women’s Football Academy
with Durham Women FC and skills and
employability programmes with North Tees
and Hartlepool Hospitals NHS Foundation
Trust and Tees Active.
The college has also now launched its
Institute of Sport and Education, enabling
young athletes to increase academic
attainment while developing their sporting
performance.
“Sometimes in this area there can be a
tendency for young people to not set their
aspirations high enough,” reflects Ben. “We
want to inspire everyone to aim higher.
A growth mindset is how we inspire the
young people who put their trust in us.”
Lesley Graham, campus principal, Stockton Riverside College
When it comes to making your mark, there
can be little more daunting than stepping
into a high achieving college and not just
maintaining those high standards but also
building on that success.
That was the task faced by campus
principal Lesley Graham when she joined
the team at Stockton Riverside College.
With the college already graded Good by
Ofsted and well recognised for its quality
provision and transformational partnerships,
Lesley says: “I’m delighted I have managed
to further grow recruitment and improve
achievement across all ages and provision
types.
“This was no mean feat, as Stockton’s
achievement was already significantly above
national rates. So further improving on that
was a real accomplishment.”
Having built her career through a return
to education after ten years as a stay-at-
home mum, Lesley is a true advocate of
further education, both professionally and
Lesley Graham.
personally.
And new to the area, she is rapidly
becoming a voice for Stockton and the
wider Tees Valley too.
With a string of exciting plans in the
pipeline, including a new Academy of
Performing and Technical Arts and seeing
the college become a Centre of Excellence
for English and Maths, she adds: “I am
excited by the college. I feel we are on the
cusp of something really special here.”
To find out more about Etc. visit:
stockton.ac.uk | cleveland.ac.uk | bede.ac.uk | neta.co.uk