Tag: Stockton Riverside College

FE Commissioner hosts first strategy meeting at Stockton Riverside College

FE Commissioner and Deputy FE Commissioners visit Stockton Riverside College

Further Education Commissioner, Ellen Thinnesen OBE, visited Stockton Riverside College, where she hosted the first strategy meeting with her Deputy Further Education Commissioners.

Stepping into the role this month, the commissioner and her team will work with colleges across England to drive improvements in the sector.

The newly appointed FE Commissioner said: “It was important my first strategy meeting with deputies took place within the FE sector, rather than in a central or remote location.

“Whilst we had a packed agenda, holding the meeting in a college allowed part of it to be opened to the college’s chief executive and chair, enabling rich two-way dialogue, and with students too. It is an approach that underlines our ongoing commitment to listen and engage meaningfully with the sector.”

No stranger to the region, as the former chief executive of Education Partnership North East, the commissioner said: “Located in the North East Stockton Riverside College was chosen because it exemplifies the vital role further education plays in supporting residents, local communities and employers.

“The college is part of an Ofsted Outstanding college group and is renowned for its strong partnerships, wide-ranging academic, vocational and technical provision, and focus on skills development that directly responds to regional economic priorities.

“The college demonstrates the innovation, adaptability, and impact FE colleges have in shaping opportunities for learners of all ages.”

Taking the opportunity to tour the college, Ellen was joined by Roger Cotes, Director for Post-16 Regions and Providers at the Department for Education, as well as deputies, Frances Wadsworth, Becky Edwards, Graham Razey, and Esme Winch – all sector experts and specialists.

“It is fantastic that the newly appointed FE Commissioner chose Stockton Riverside College to host her first strategic meeting,” said Grant Glendinning, chief executive officer and group principal of the Education Training Collective, which incorporates Stockton Riverside College.

“For us, it’s a chance to showcase the college and the work that goes on here and across the group, and to have a seat at the table at the very start of those important early conversations.”

The role of the FE Commissioner, her deputies and advisers, is to support and strengthen leadership and governance of colleges. Ellen will also play a key role in delivering the government’s Plan for Change, focused on growing the economy in key sectors, and breaking down barriers to opportunity by tackling the number of young people not in education, employment or training.

Of her new appointment Ellen said: “On a personal level, taking up this position is both a privilege and a responsibility. I feel a strong sense of purpose stepping into this role and in being able to directly support a sector I am not only a product of, but also deeply value.

“Further education shaped my own opportunities, and I am passionate about ensuring the sector continues to raise standards and provide life-changing experiences for others.

“I have always believed every college should be the very best version of itself, and in this role, along with my team, we have the chance to work with governors, leaders and stakeholders to help colleges achieve that potential.”

FE Commissioner visits Stockton Riverside College

NETA Training shares plans for new £14m facility in Thornaby

NETA Training has unveiled plans for the development of its £14m purpose-built centre in Thornaby.

A flagship project of the Thornaby Town Deal, the new campus will further enhance the delivery of quality engineering and construction training, within the borough, for young people and adults.

“After many months in the pipeline we are excited to be bringing the brand-new NETA Training site to Thornaby,” said the Education Training Collective’s chief operating officer Phil Hastie.

“NETA has a long history of meeting the skills needs of employers in our region and beyond, this development will now bring together NETA’s industrial heritage with fantastic new facilities.”

Artwork for new NETA Training development
Artwork for new NETA Training development in Thornaby

Made possible with £4.5m from the Government’s Town Deal fund, and delivered in partnership with Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council and with the support of the Thornaby Town Deal Board, the new building will be situated on the Stockton Riverside College site, with work expected to start late in the summer.  

Further funding has been secured from the Department for Education and investment from the Education Training Collective (Etc.).

Maintaining its strong identity and brand, NETA Training will have its own access point off Princeton Drive and continue to deliver its full range of training services, including commercial courses, testing and certification, apprenticeship training and full-time engineering programmes for school-leavers. 

The 5,000 square metre facility will comprise bespoke industry workshops for the delivery of engineering skills, including welding, electrical, mechanical, pipefitting and rigging and lifting.

Investment will see some of the latest high spec industry-standard equipment sitting alongside traditional heavy-duty machinery, maintaining NETA’s unique character and appeal.

Phil said: “A new building for NETA has been on our wish list for a number of years, it is incredible, thanks to the Thornaby Town Deal, to finally be able to make this happen.”

Working with employers, the local and combined authorities, this is the latest in a series of improvement projects delivered by the Etc., a group of Teesside colleges and training providers which includes NETA Training and Stockton Riverside College, to increase opportunities and create better facilities in which to learn.

Development of the new building in Thornaby will run alongside the creation of the NETA-led All Access Academy at Redcar and Cleveland College, announced in March, delivering training in the likes of scaffolding, rope access and rigging and lifting.

NETA director Sean Johnston said: “These are exciting times for NETA, our staff, learners, delegates and all the employers that we work with.  We can’t wait to see both our new centre in Thornaby and the All Access Academy in Redcar up and running.

“Engineering and construction skills have a massive part to play in Teesside’s industrial future.  We want to help create a workforce on our doorstep with the knowledge, talent and abilities to ensure our communities benefit from that.”

The relocation of NETA is one of the priority interventions that are set to bring long-term change and investment into Thornaby as part of its town deal.  The interventions were identified by the Thornaby Town Deal Board, a group of local stakeholders who support the town investment plan, made up of key public and private sector bodies.

Mark White CBE DL, chair of Thornaby Town Deal Board and chair of Stockton-on-Tees Strategic Education Board, said: “The opportunity for NETA’s relocation highlights how our Town Investment Plan will unlock fantastic opportunities for Thornaby-on-Tees.  It allows communities to prosper, employers to find staff that will help their businesses and the local economy to grow and flourish.

“Bringing a campus of such scale and significance to Stockton Riverside College is testament to the quality of ambition for the interventions and the hard work of the Town Deal Board.

“This is a very important step in making our ambitions for the Thornaby Town Deal a reality.”

Iain Robinson, assistant director for town centres development at Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, said: “The Thornaby Town Deal is part of the council’s exciting regeneration programme that will help the borough to be recognised for its thriving economy at the heart of the Tees Valley and as a place where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.

“The plans for a new NETA Training facility, as well as our ambition to create the nationally significant Tees Valley Care and Health Innovation Zone, will help to breathe new life into Teesdale Business Park and bring a host of wider benefits for the borough.”