Undoubtedly the biggest news this month has been the grand opening of Darlington’s new £120million railway station after its massive transformation.
The unveiling was the culmination of a decade of work to increase reliability of rail services across our region, open up capacity for more services and show our ambition for the modern rail network we deserve across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool. On top of this, we’ve been slashing waiting times on our roads – up to 50% at some of our most congested hotspots – using predictive, real-time digital technology to adjust traffic lights to live conditions. This is all helping to increase consistency of journeys and deliver transport infrastructure that’s fit for the future.
We’ve also been helping young people get on the path to good-quality, well-paid careers. The success of our Youth Guarantee Trailblazer scheme has already helped hundreds of people aged 18-21 into the world of work, while backing our brilliant local businesses. We’re now extending the programme for a second year with a further £5million of Government funding. And more than 600 young people have gained a deeper understanding of employment opportunities, honing their skills as part of the SEND Enterprise Challenge Week. A total of 16 schools and colleges took part in the scheme, which supports SEND students to develop confidence, skills and an understanding of local careers.
And finally, we’ve been showcasing our region nationally – both in business and music. One of our Artists of the Year, Boo, opened the BBC Radio 1 Big Weekend Main Stage last weekend, just days after our appearance at UKREiiF, the UK’s premier investor conference. We took some of the biggest projects and opportunities from across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool and put them in front of more than 16,000 property developers, financiers, Government representatives and industry specialists to show them our region’s primed for their next investment.
