18 | Aycliffe Today Business
EMPLOYER
PLEDGE
South West Durham Training
(SWDT) is aiming to tackle the
skills shortage head-on with an
ambitious new plan. MARTIN
WALKER finds out more...
Whether you like it or not, if you’re an
engineering or manufacturing company, you
can’t get away from the looming skills shortage.
paperwork, provide mentors and even help
source funding to make taking on Apprentices
as easy as possible.
Experts predict a shortfall of about 8,500 skilled
people in the North-East alone over the next
three years.
It’s a bold statement which will give Aycliffe
firms of all shapes and sizes a genuine
opportunity to start training tomorrow’s
workforce.
And firms on Aycliffe Business Park face an
even bigger problem in the more immediate
future with the arrival of Hitachi Rail Europe, as
the Japanese giants are bound to attract some
of their best employees when they’re open for
business next year.
South West Durham Training (SWDT) has
been carrying out extensive research over the
last year, speaking to employers and industry
experts to come up with succession plans
which will enable firms to future-proof their
businesses.
The training-provider is now planning a highprofile Employer Pledge event this summer
which will involve firms showing their
commitment to Apprenticeships by signing a
pledge.
In return, SWDT is offering to look after the
It’s the brainchild of SWDT’s new chief
executive officer Trevor Alley - a part-time
Ofsted inspector who boasts a wealth of
experience in both education and engineering.
“Firstly we know there’s a need for more
Apprenticeships generally, and that’s a national
problem, says Trevor.
”
“The Government is putting money into
Apprenticeships, which is good news, but at
Newton Aycliffe, we know Hitachi is coming.
They are likely to take on Apprentices, and for
sure the supply chain it will bring along will
increase the need for employers to be involved.
“We also know there are job shortages already
in engineering in this area. So for a mixture
of reasons, and because we’re positioned
where we are, we think we can be key in the