Training
Rationale
The North East pharmaceutical manufacturing cluster has grown substantially over the last five years: its contribution to GVA has more than doubled and its workforce has increased by 50% from 3,730 to over 5,500.
Workforce growth has led to a skills scarcity. North East Pharma is working with the cluster companies to develop a comprehensive skills training framework to address the scarcity.
Partners
The North East Combined Authority (NECA) commits substantial resources to the development and coordination of skills training including close interactions with schools and further education colleges. It has developed programmes in skills with the construction and offshore sectors; it is strongly supportive of a comparable initiative with the pharmaceutical cluster; North East Pharma is now working closely with the combined authority.
Durham University has implemented a skills programme in collaboration with the Offshore and Renewable Energy Catapult involving higher level skills and internships. It intends to work with North East Pharma to develop a comparable programme for pharma. The University offers a gateway to the four other regional universities through Universities for the North East.
East Durham College offers training programmes in life sciences and pharmaceutical manufacturing. It also coordinates its activities with all other of the region’s further education providers. North East Pharma is working with the college to coordinate its and others’ provision with cluster companies.
Resilience is an Office for Life Sciences-funded initiative to develop training programmes for the pharmaceutical sector in partnership with universities. North East Pharma will contribute to the development of skills associated with the manufacture and formulation and packaging of small molecule APIs.
North East Pharma is also in conversation with Cogent Skills (apprenticeships) and the Gatsby Foundation (schools and industry).
Areas of focus
The following areas of activity have been identified in discussion with cluster companies
Clean room and cGMP training for our own staff and for those we may recruit from other comparable industrial sectors.
Potentially suitable courses and facilities are available at East Durham College (Peterlee) and Northumberland College (Ashington).
Internships for students from schools and universities.
NECA has grown successful programmes of school visits and internships for the construction and offshore sectors. Durham University includes internships for university students in its offshore skills initiative, as does Resilience skills. North East Pharma also has access to cluster expertise in working with schools and universities. It is pursuing a funding opportunity with NECA for newly-graduated student placements within the cluster.
An outreach programme to schools to promote the cluster and support STEM subjects.
North East Pharma is working with NECA to pilot an outreach programme with primary and secondary schools. It draws on significant cluster experience with such programmes.
A scheme for graduates comprising rotating placements in companies.
North East Pharma will work with cluster companies to evaluate the shape, value and feasibility of a rotating graduate placement scheme
Supporting recruitment to the North East
In collaboration with NECA and NEPIC, we are strengthening already productive relationships and partnerships in the region’s pharmaceutical manufacturing cluster and facilitating its growth, skills and investment.
The North East Pharma website highlights the strong North East pharmaceutical manufacturing cluster and promote the North East as a rewarding place to live and further a career, building on existing resources and developing new materials and approaches.
The North East’s most powerful industry cluster
The North East of England Process Industry Cluster (NEPIC) is a not-for-profit membership organisation that supports the needs and interests of the process sector in the North East of England.
It works closely with member companies, universities, research institutes and public bodies, to forge business relationships that allows identification of opportunities for investment, influence and innovation, leverage additional value for the industry, facilitate connections, promote collaboration and enable growth.
NEPIC is the largest process cluster in the UK, comprising of more than 4,000 companies, which generates over £75.2 billion in turnover each year and supports more than 500,000 jobs.
From innovation to commercialisation
CPI acts as a catalyst bringing together academia, businesses, government and investors to translate bright ideas and research into the marketplace. It provides access to the right experts, equipment, networks, funding and more – connecting the dots for effective innovation.
Established in 2004, it is a leading independent technology innovation centre and a founding member of the UK Government’s High Value Manufacturing Catapult, working with our partners across diverse markets in the UK and around the world, driving their innovations forward and helping them to reduce the risk and cost associated with product development.
Universities
The North East of England has 5 universities offering undergraduate, postgraduate and research degrees.
These five universities work together as part of Universities for North East England (UNEE), a collaborative regional HE partnership focused on widening access and boosting economic, social and educational impact in the region.
Newcastle University
Russell Group research university in Newcastle upon Tyne.
Durham University
Russell Group research university in Durham, known for collegiate system.
Northumbria University
Large public university in Newcastle, strong in professional and research-focused teaching.
Teesside University
Public university based in Middlesbrough, offering a range of vocational and academic courses.
University of Sunderland
University located in Sunderland offering a wide variety of degree programmes.
Colleges
Further Education Colleges
Bishop Auckland College
Further and vocational education in Bishop Auckland.
City of Sunderland College
Large FE college in Sunderland.
The Northern School of Art
Previously Cleveland College of Art and Design. Specialist art and design college in Middlesbrough/Hartlepool.
Darlington College
Further education in Darlington.
Derwentside College
College in Consett offering vocational and adult courses.
East Durham College
Peterlee-based further education college.
Gateshead College
Further Education provider in Gateshead.
Hartlepool College of Further Education
Further education in Hartlepool.
New College Durham
Large FE college in Durham.
Newcastle College
Part of a major college group in Newcastle upon Tyne.
Northumberland College
Further Education college in Ashington and surrounding areas.
Redcar & Cleveland College
College in Redcar offering A-Levels and vocational courses.
Stockton Riverside College
FE college in Stockton-on-Tees.
Explore
Discover
Supporting the North East pharmaceutical sector businesses and manufacturers to grow their employment, skills, investment, exports and supply chains through business-led collaboration.