Member Article

Skills gaps initiative prompts major recruitment drive

The North East Chamber of Commerce has launched a major recruitment drive after securing £500,000 Government funding to fill skills gaps in businesses across the region.

NECC Training Ltd, the training arm of the business membership organisation, aims to recruit 1,000 additional companies that have skills shortages and are keen to train their workforces. Project New Recruit will also look to enrol an additional 200 learners on a range of courses at NECC Training’s ten training centres across the North East, stretching from Hexham in Northumberland to Northallerton in North Yorkshire.

The training company was awarded the funding under the Government’s new flagship Train to Gain initiative, a service to help businesses get training to plug their skills gaps.

Karen Brown, NECC director of training and workforce development, said: “This is the largest recruitment drive of its kind that NECC Training has carried out. “It is vital that companies offer young people real work opportunities. NECC Training appreciates the importance not just of giving people more skills but arming them with the right work placements.”

Under Train to Gain, a skills brokerage service has been set up which is jointly funded by the Learning & Skills Council (LSC) and the regional development agency, One NorthEast. Some of the training may be eligible for full or partial subsidy. Although open to all employers, Train to Gain is aimed particularly at “hard to reach” companies, such as those that do not have Investors in People status.

To find out more contact Karen Brown on 0191 386 1133 or email Karen.brown@necc.co.uk.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .