The North East Automotive Alliance (NEAA) is delighted to announce its appointment by the Secretary of State for Education as the designated Employer Representative Body (ERB) for the new North East Local Skills Improvement Plan (NELSIP).
Covering the whole of the North East Combined Authority region, including the North of Tyne, the integrated NELSIP will ensure local skills provision is better aligned with employer needs – helping to secure the talent pipeline required to drive future economic growth across the region.
The new NELSIP will reflect current strengths and emerging opportunities across the strategically important sectors highlighted in the North East Combined Authority’s Local Growth Plan and the New Deal for North East Workers. These include Advanced Manufacturing; Creative Industries & Content; Defence, Security & Space; Life Science, Pharma & Process; Offshore Wind & Energy Transition; Tech, Digital & AI; Construction; and SMEs – all of which are vital employers and growth drivers across the North East.
This milestone builds on the NEAA’s successful leadership in delivering the previous NELSIP across County Durham, Sunderland, Gateshead, and South Tyneside, which supported a combined workforce of over 500,000 people.
As the UK’s largest automotive cluster, the NEAA is uniquely placed to lead this next phase. Building on its proven track record in skills and innovation programmes, the Alliance will work with the North East Combined Authority alongside employers across a wide range of sectors, colleges, Higher Education providers, other ERBs, training providers, and regional stakeholders to deliver a skills system that tackles shortages, strengthens workforce development, and reinforces the North East’s position as a hub for industrial innovation and excellence.
The NEAA will also build on the strong foundation laid by the North East Chamber of Commerce, ensuring a smooth transition from the North of Tyne LSIP into a single, integrated plan for the wider region. The North East Chamber of Commerce will continue to lead the plan in neighbouring Tees Valley.
Paul Butler, CEO of the NEAA, said: “We are proud to have been selected as the Employer Representative Body for the next North East Local Skills Improvement Plan. Skills are at the heart of sustainable growth, and this appointment reflects the NEAA’s commitment to ensuring that local people have the right training and opportunities to thrive in the industries of the future. By working collaboratively with the North East Combined Authority, employers, other ERBs, education providers and government, we will help to build a stronger, more resilient regional economy.”