Colleges in region join together to boost skills

COLLEGES from around the North East have come together to form an organisation that aims to improve skills in the region.

- GRAEME WHITFIELD

The members of the new organisation - Colleges for North East England - have a combined 62,000 students and are aiming to improve vocational education, focusing on high-growth areas. They also want to set up new programmes to tackle poverty.

In addition, the organisation will have a lobbying role, pushing for policies that support the education, skills and workforce needs of the North East. And it has pledged to work with business leaders to ensure the region’s colleges are providing the right courses for new staff.

The colleges hope that joint working will be a “game changer” for the North East and say they are “ready to make a significant contribution to the region’s future, tackling today’s challenges and creating tomorrow's opportunities”.