By David Gartland, CEO
Big things are happening in Darlington and I’m looking forward to sharing these with you. Over the next 12 months I will be talking about many incredible developments that are taking place on our doorstep, that will really benefit the local community, employers and our economy.
One of the biggest? The Darlington STEM Centre of Excellence.
This isn’t going to be just another building. It’s a world-class state of the art facility designed to provide our region with the people, with the right skills it needs for the future. As industries like AI, robotics, green energy, and advanced manufacturing grow across the Tees Valley, we need a workforce that’s ready to take on those opportunities, and that’s exactly what this centre will provide.
Our goal is simple; to inspire and prepare people for great careers in STEM. From primary school right through to university, we want young people to see the opportunities STEM offers. It’s not just for the next generation, this centre will also help the current workforce retrain and upskill, so everyone can benefit from the jobs coming our way.
The numbers speak for themselves. Across the UK, there are 173,000 STEM vacancies costing the economy £1.5bn a year. Locally, the technical sector already makes up 14% of businesses and employs 7% of workers and that’s set to grow, which is why we need to act now!
Thanks to incredible teamwork with Darlington MP Lola McEvoy, Darlington Borough Council, and government departments, we’ve secured £21m in funding to deliver this project. This is made up of £16m from the Mission Growth Fund and £5m from Pride in Place. The investment will create a cutting-edge, three-storey building packed with features, including:
· A huge auditorium that will be used for guest talks, seminars, workshops and much more
· A 350sqm community workspace
· Science and data labs, seminar rooms, and IT suites
· A hub to inspire young minds
· STEM holiday camps, breakout spaces, and social areas
It will offer a place to study on full time STEM related courses, apprenticeships, undergraduate and postgraduate courses, and lifelong learning opportunities for more than 600 students. We of course also recognise that partnerships with businesses are key and so the centre will connect students with real-world projects, internships, and mentoring. We will continue to work with employers to ensure that skills match what employers actually need.
Location matters too. The centre will sit in Darlington’s fast growing education quarter, just minutes from the railway station, alongside Darlington College and Teesside University and in close proximity to all the new business on the Science Park that are needing the skills and training we can deliver. Easy to access, perfectly placed.
This facility is more than walls and classrooms. It is a commitment to our community, our economy, and our future. Together, we’re creating a sustainable ecosystem where local talent is nurtured, retained, and continually upskilled.
Darlington is one of only two areas in the country to receive this level of investment. That says a lot about the quality of education here and the ambition we share for the region.
STEM is shaping the future, with significant opportunities emerging in Darlington and at Darlington College, right here, right now.