Over 150 South Tyneside residents, including many who are long term unemployed, will have the opportunity to move back into the jobs market, thanks to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
The £1.4m Inclusivity Pilot in Advanced Manufacturing, South Tyneside (IPAM-ST), supported by South Tyneside Council’s UKSPF programme will assist South Tyneside residents, who are economically inactive, unemployed, or not in education.
The North East Automotive Alliance (NEAA), the UK’s largest automotive cluster, has secured £3.3m, for IPAM-ST and another UK Shared Prosperity Fund-related project in Sunderland.
The NEAA’s operational role will include leading and managing staff employed on the pilot in pursuit of its objectives and policies, working closely with other bodies to develop and promote the programme to SMEs and promoting the objectives, actions and achievements to wider stakeholders both regionally and nationally.
The Inclusivity Pilot in Advanced Manufacturing project will assist South Tyneside residents to access a vocational skills pathway, leading to employment in the advanced manufacturing sector, with the aim of at least 60 people gaining high quality jobs by April 2025. While the fund is for the residents of South Tyneside, potential employers can be based anywhere in the North East.
The pilot will have a strong employer focus, enabling SMEs, of all sizes, to identify their technical skill requirements and access high quality technical skills development for their current and future workforce.
This innovative approach seeks to be self-sustaining and support equivalent best-practice pathways in other sectors, including construction and health. Unemployment and economic inactivity are acute issues in South Tyneside, disproportionately impacting residents and constraining the local economy.
The project will see an aligned approach to enable those from under-represented and disadvantaged groups to develop the skills needed and provide the support required to remove barriers to access good jobs and careers.
Paul Butler, chief executive of the North East Automotive Alliance, said: “The region has many outstanding manufacturing companies, who are contributing enormously to the local economy, not least by the creation of many thousands of high-quality jobs.
“However, the biggest potential barrier to continued success, is the regular supply of a skilled workforce. Both of the projects we are now facilitating, in conjunction with key partners and stakeholders, will play an important part in filling that gap and, equally important, providing a real opportunity for people that have been unemployed for some time, to step forward and rebuild their lives through new skills and training.”
This pilot will seek to address the challenges presented by a long-term cycle of unemployment and economic inactivity and will provide residents with assistance to access jobs with local employers, through the NEAA’s links with member organisations. Local agencies such as DWP and South Tyneside Works will be key partners in this project and integral to its success.
Cllr Margaret Meling, Lead Member for Economic Growth and Transport, said: “Connecting residents to jobs and skills is one of the council’s five ambitions and enabling the long-term unemployed and economically inactive to access opportunities in the green economy is central to that.
“We know that South Tyneside and our region is right at the forefront of advanced manufacturing, automotive and engineering and it’s vital that we nurture our workforce and equip people with the right skills so they can capitalise on these opportunities.”
NOTES TO EDITOR
The Training for Growth pilot programme has received £226,498 UKSPF grant from the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund Programme, managed in Sunderland by Sunderland City Council on behalf of the Sunderland Partnership.
The Inclusivity Pilot in Advanced Manufacturing has received £462,764 UKSPF grant from the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund Programme, managed in South Tyneside by South Tyneside Council.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit UK Shared Prosperity Fund: prospectus – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
