Sighting the skills gap
BRINGING ADVANCED MANUFACTURING TO THE NORTHEAST
MTC Training is expanding its national footprint with the launch of a new training centre in North Tyneside, aimed at addressing regional skills shortages in advanced manufacturing and engineering.
The new facility, MTC Training Tyneside, will be located at Cobalt Park near Newcastle and is scheduled to open in summer 2026. The centre will provide hands-on technical training, initially focusing on upskilling and reskilling programmes before introducing apprenticeship delivery later in the year.
Part of the wider Manufacturing Technology Centre, MTC Training will use the site to extend its established training model from existing centres in Coventry, Oxfordshire and Liverpool into the Northeast. The aim is to support regional manufacturers in adopting new technologies, improving productivity and building a skilled workforce pipeline.
From September 2026, the centre will deliver Level 3 and Level 4 apprenticeships, including programmes for mechatronic maintenance technicians, engineering fitters and manufacturing support technicians. An automation and controls pathway is also planned, subject to funding approval. The first cohort is expected to include 48 apprentices.
The project is backed by Lloyds Banking Group, extending a long-standing partnership with MTC. Total funding now exceeds £18.5 million through to 2029, supporting a target of training more than 6,500 apprentices, engineers and graduates across all sites.
The expansion aligns with broader regional investment, including a £1 billion financing commitment from Lloyds to support North East businesses. With demand for skills rising in sectors such as offshore wind and electrified transport, the new centre is expected to play a key role in strengthening the region’s advanced manufacturing capability.
LEEDS TARGETS YOUTH SKILLS GAP
Manufacturers and engineering firms across Leeds are intensifying efforts to address the sector’s skills shortage, as youth unemployment reaches its highest level in more than a decade.
The Leeds Manufacturing Festival 2026 has returned with an expanded programme aimed at connecting employers directly with young people and promoting pathways into engineering careers. The initiative comes as unemployment among 16–24-year-olds has risen to 16%, highlighting the urgency of improving access to vocational routes such as T Levels, apprenticeships and graduate schemes.
Backed by a broad coalition of manufacturers, the festival includes site visits, careers panels and hands-on activities designed to improve awareness of modern manufacturing roles. Participating companies range from established firms such as AW Hainsworth, Brandon Medical and Kirkstall Precision Engineering to SMEs including Involution and Bensons Panels.
Industry body Make UK is supporting the event, with policy director Verity Davidge highlighting the sector’s strong earning potential and career diversity.
Alongside employer engagement, the festival will host student-focused showcases, teacher visits and a two-day STEM event expected to attract around 2,000 school pupils. The programme also includes the annual awards ceremony recognising emerging talent in the sector.
By facilitating direct engagement between industry and education, the festival aims to strengthen the regional talent pipeline while helping manufacturers secure the skilled workforce required to support future growth in the sector.
