Durham training firm expands team following 50th anniversary celebrations

One of the region’s oldest training providers is gearing up for growth after expanding its team with five new recruits.

South West Durham Training (SWDT) celebrated its 50th anniversary towards the end of 2017. The Newton Aycliffe-based organisation says the major landmark has given it new momentum, with a surge of new enquiries coming in.

The firm has now taken on five key new members of staff as the firm also prepares to launch a series of new Higher National Diploma (HND) courses for employers later this year.

Vicky Chapman has been taken on as the training centre’s new supervisor, while workshop technician, Peter Johnson joins estates technician Dave Wheatley through the door.

Keith Shepherd and Ryan Blewitt have also bolstered SWDT’s Btec and higher education teams to accommodate an increase in learner numbers.

General manager, Jason Howe has said all five new appointments have put the organisation in a much stronger position going forward.

He added: “We’re on the crest of a wave after the 50th anniversary celebrations at the end of last year.

“We enjoyed a lot of positive local coverage and PR from the event which seems to have had a really positive impact, in terms of enquiries and the general feel-good factor around the place.

“Now we’re looking to kick on with these new appointments as we look to strengthen our offering to employers while we also prepare for the HND courses.”

A subsidiary of Bishop Auckland College which employs more than 25 staff, SWDT works with many of the region’s big employers including Hitachi Rail, Cummins in Darlington and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) in Barnard Castle.

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