County Durham to Benefit from National Investment in new Technical Excellence College

County Durham to Benefit from National Investment in new Technical Excellence College

New College Durham (NCD) is delighted to announce it has been chosen as one of only four colleges across the country to have been recognised as an Advanced Manufacturing Technical Excellence College (TEC).

TECs will work with employers, representative bodies, trade unions, strategic authorities, and local government to provide people with better training and job opportunities, and to generate the highly trained workforce that local economies need.

NCD is one of the few Further Education (FE) colleges that have been awarded ‘technical excellence status’ by the Department for Education, recognising its deep specialisms in priority skills areas. The college has earned its status due to its continued demonstration of excellence in provision of specific priority technical skills in Advanced Manufacturing. Its model of innovative teaching and curricula excellence will be used to drive greater coordination and collaboration across the advanced manufacturing sector.

Alison Maynard, Deputy Principal for Curriculum at New College Durham, said:

“We are honoured that New College Durham has been recognised as a Technical Excellence College for Advanced Manufacturing. This award reflects both the strength of our college and the North East’s long-standing reputation as a centre of excellence in advanced manufacturing and engineering.

Through our strong partnerships with employers across key sectors, we have built a provision that responds directly to industry needs, supporting both regional growth and nationally significant supply chains.”

NCD is already a recognised hub of excellence in the advanced manufacturing sector, with advanced facilities and resources, including expert staff, innovative course materials, and strong employer and industry partnerships.

The college also proudly leads the North East Institute of Technology (NEIoT), which brings together employers, higher education institutions, and further education colleges across the region, working to deliver advanced technical education in areas including construction, engineering, manufacturing and digital. The new Advanced Manufacturing TEC will complement the existing Institute of Technology, strengthening our collective efforts to drive the technical skills agenda across the North East.

Alison continued: “This investment will enable us to expand technical training, strengthen our industry-led curriculum development, and support clear progression pathways into advanced manufacturing careers.”

As part of a wider plan to plug an estimated worker shortfall in Britain's priority industries by 2030, around 65,000 learners will now have access to training for high-demand jobs in the country’s fastest-growing industries through the new TECs. They will equip young people with the technical skills needed to access well-paid, high-skilled jobs. It’s estimated that almost 600,000 additional workers will be needed by 2030 in these key sectors, underlining the scale of demand for skills and further training in these critical industries.

Andy Broadbent, Chief Executive and Principal, New College Durham added:

“Working as a hub for excellence, we look forward to collaborating with partners across the North East and nationally to raise standards, increase capacity, and help deliver the skilled workforce needed for the UK’s priority industries. This is a proud moment for New College Durham and for our region.

As an Advanced Manufacturing Technical Excellence College, we will continue to deliver the high-quality training and industry partnerships needed to equip learners with the skills for the jobs of the future.”