24 | Tees Business
The Northern Skills Group – an expert
provider of apprenticeships, employer-led
training and retraining – is the new training
arm of Middlesbrough College.
Northern Skills
Group is your
skills partner
E
mployers across the Tees Valley have
a new partner to support their skills
needs.
Northern Skills Group – an expert provider
of apprenticeships, employer-led training and
retraining – has launched in the North East.
It’s the specialist training arm of
Middlesbrough College, and includes the
expertise of the former North East Chamber
of Commerce training provider, NECC
Training.
Whether it’s guidance on how to tackle
training staff, help in securing funding or
advice on navigating the law, Northern Skills
Group can lead the way.
The new group, which has bases in
Durham, Newcastle, Middlesbrough,
Sunderland and York, is already working with
a range of businesses – from multi-nationals
to owner-managed firms.
Its team of experts, many from industry
backgrounds, is on a mission to equip
businesses with the means to increase
productivity, improve competitiveness and
future-proof their skills.
Peter Wilson, Northern Skills Group lead,
said: “We know businesses of all shapes and
sizes in the Tees Valley need a skills partner
they can rely on to provide sound advice and
practical solutions across commercial and
technical training.
“Northern Skills Group has the interests
of the regional economy at its core. We
share the ambitions of businesses going for
growth.
“That’s why we build skills training
solutions and apprenticeships around
companies’ specific needs. We deliver
training from their premises, our own
industry-leading STEM Centre, and other
bases across the North.”
Peter explained the group is helping some
of the region’s most innovative businesses to
invest in, and develop, their people to secure
a competitive and sustainable advantage.
He added: “Not only are we working
with some of the region’s most high profile
businesses such as Hitachi Rail Europe,
Primex, SAGE (UK), ElringKlinger (GB) and
Nifco we are also supporting an increasing
number of SMEs, including owner-managed
businesses, that share a determination for
our region to be competitive in a globalised
economy.
“Northern Skills Group is committed
to shaping the skills agenda for the 21st
Century, and we’ll do that by working closely
with regional businesses.”
With the Government’s Apprenticeship
Levy coming into force in April 2017, the team
is focussed on guiding employers through
the changes and opportunities.
Northern Skills Group advisors want to
show smaller companies how they can take
advantage of available Government funding
as 98% of employers will pay no levy but
will be eligible to receive vouchers to fund
apprentices.
The introduction of the Levy, which is
designed to put apprenticeship funding back
into the hands of employers, will see the
adoption of new ‘Apprenticeship standards’
that will replace existing apprenticeship
frameworks.
Employers need to update their payroll
software to prepare for the changes, and the
Northern Skills Group team can help.
Peter added: “Understanding the
Apprenticeship Levy and apprenticeship
reforms is crucial for businesses of all sizes.
For firms with a wage bill of less than £3m
per year, there may be significant benefits
available – and we want them to capitalise on
that opportunity.