MADE NE (Manufacturing, Automation, Digitalisation, Electrification North East), led by Nissan with partners, including New College Durham, will on behalf of the automotive sector, create world-leading training facilities over two sites within the International Advanced Manufacturing Strategic Site (IAMSS) in Sunderland.
The £14.6 million project will provide open access facilities to industry for skills training in the region’s advanced manufacturing sector, with a particular focus on EV and battery manufacturing. It will cover skills development from primary school to apprenticeships, to in-work learning and training.
Principal and Chief Executive of New College Durham, Andy Broadbent said,
“Here at New College Durham, we strive to provide the types of education and skills that benefit both our students and the wider business community. Having recently won an award for the delivery of our apprenticeship programme and maintained our ranking as number one in the region for provision of apprentice opportunities, we are in an excellent position to help this unique project.
We continually look to the future, and the future of our region depends upon identifying and nurturing the skills, talent, and innovation of the next generation of highly skilled workers. We pride ourselves on being flexible enough to adapt to industry changes while being fastidious enough to ensure training provision of the highest quality.”
The plans will go before the North East Combined Authority Cabinet at their meeting on Tuesday 30 July. MADE NE is the first project to come forward as part of the region’s Investment Zone: a £160 million, 10-year programme that is expected to create at least 4,000 jobs and secure £3bn of private sector investment.
NCD are currently collaborating with Newcastle University to develop the National Battery Training Skills Academy. Scheduled to launch in October 2024, the Academy will engage those in the North East with education and skills initiatives, training provision, battery degree apprenticeships, CPD and skills bootcamps. All of which are designed to ensure operators and engineers have the skills they need now and for the future It will feature innovative alternative training methods including and virtual reality technology.
Deputy Principal of New College Durham Alison Maynard, who earlier this year was guest speaker at the Battery Cells & Systems Expo, added,
“Once again, the region is leading the way in automotive engineering. This scale of both financial investment and partnership working across the region is a fantastic illustration of how forward-looking the North East is. There is no doubt that as a region we are taking a strong lead on the way to a more productive and sustainable future.”
MADE NE aims to be self-sustaining in five years, generating revenue linked with the delivery of apprenticeship, sub-letting space to businesses aligned with the goals of the project and by making Nissan’s training commercially available so that others can benefit. The plan has been developed in partnership by Nissan with the Combined Authority, Sunderland City Council, Education Partnership North East (EPNE), New College Durham, AESC, Vantec, Newcastle University, the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult, and the North East Automotive Alliance (NEAA).
Photo: Adam Pennick, Vice President, Manufacturing, Nissan Sunderland Plant; North East Mayor Kim McGuinness; Leader of Sunderland City Council Cllr Michael Mordey; in the background are members of the Nissan Skills Academy, and current and former apprentices.