Teesworks Skills Academy Welcomes Hundreds of Pupils As It Throws Open Doors

Hundreds of students have been the first to take advantage of the all-new Teesworks Skills Academy building as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week.

The building has been used by 200 Y9 to Y13 Tees Valley pupils for five days of activities to hone their entrepreneurial skills, with Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen also visiting to meet the students today (18 November).

The week allowed employers to meet young people to explore their expectations and requirements when recruiting, including the importance of attitude to work, team building and creativity in every job role.

Activities also included practical advice and experience to explore how self-employment can be a real option for young people when they leave full-time education.

The week involved workshops related to business and enterprise, supported by Enterprise Made Simple, NE-BIC and Tedco. Digital presentations were also delivered by local entrepreneurs such as Lyndsay Hogg from Hogg Global Logistics, Ben Quaintrell from My Property Box and Nichola Reeder of 12^th Man Solutions. Students got a tour of the Materials Processing Institute and the week culminated in sessions with Adam Bouabda, MD of Hartlepool’s Sea & Sky Pictures, the first partner of BBC Comedy’s Regional Partnership Scheme.

The £2.1million headquarters will be a base that can be used by employers, training providers, schools and partners so they can come together and support local people into the roles being created on the Teesworks site, for projects such as SeAH Wind Ltd’s offshore wind monopile manufacturing facility.

The two-floor, 5,400sq ft academy includes three classrooms, plus meeting and interview rooms and office space and areas for information sessions and training events.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “In 2022 we’ve seen construction on new projects across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool on a scale not seen in years, and yet as the year draws to a close we’re still launching new initiatives like the Teesworks Skills Academy, a brilliant project to bring to life the developments on-site and across Tees Valley.

“The new Skills Academy building will enable us to host more events to support local people into the good-quality, well-paid jobs being created on site. We want to get as many people as possible through its doors to give them an insight into the careers they could have at Teesworks.

“This week’s activity shows the value and the flexibility of the building, as it’s also being used to inspire the innovators, job creators and entrepreneurs of the future by being part of and hosting local activities as part of national events of this nature.

“Global Entrepreneurship Week is a fantastic initiative to give the next generation the knowledge of what careers are out there for them, help them think outside of the box and develop the skills they need to succeed right here in Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool.”