NEAA PROJECTS
Through funding opportunities, the NEAA is able to deliver a number of programmes that help to support the automotive sector needs.
LOCAL AUTOMOTIVE BUSINESS SUPPORT - SUNDERLAND (LABS-S)
The NEAA has been awarded a share of over £5 million funded through Sunderland’s Shared Prosperity Fund Programme, designed to stimulate economic development and business growth.
Part of a wider suite of UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) projects, the NEAA’s programme, Local Automotive Business Support – Sunderland (LABS-S), will provide businesses within the Sunderland region with tailored support and intervention by addressing their strategic needs within the automotive supply chain.
NORTH EAST LOCAL SKILLS IMPROVEMENT PLAN
The NEAA has been appointed by the Department for Education to lead the development of a new Local Skills Improvement Plan for the North East. We will be working with businesses, education and training providers, key stakeholders and cross-sector Employer Representative Bodies to develop a plan which meets future business needs and provides a resilient and responsive supply of the skills needed to drive economic success and investment in the region.
TRAINING FOR GROWTH PILOT
The Training for Growth pilot aims to create a comprehensive framework to boost the number of technical apprenticeships in Sunderland.
This initiative is designed to address the future investment needs of the area by enhancing the skill levels of the local workforce. Through this pilot, residents will gain greater access to advanced apprenticeship programmes, which in turn will lead to higher qualifications, better job prospects, and increased wages. This systemic approach is intended to foster sustainable economic growth and improve the overall quality of life in the community.
V-CAL PROJECT
The V-CAL Project, led by the NEAA and a high level consortia, seeks to scale and expand the deployment of Connected and Autonomous Logistics (CAL) to future-proof commercial opportunities and drive significant UK growth in this sector. V-CAL will build upon the Department for Digital Culture Media & Sport (DCMS) funded 5G CAL project, which delivered a working proof-of-concept (PoC) demonstration of the autonomous and teleoperation of a 40-tonne truck, with live loads delivered from Vantec to Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK (NMUK) fully autonomously without intervention by a safety driver.
FUNDED SUPPORT
We are continuously working with local enterprise partnerships and Government to secure funding for the automotive sector and our members that will enable the development of critical assets and infrastructure to support growth for our area.
