In a monumental stride towards a sustainable future, North East Mayor Kim McGuinness and local authority leaders at the North East Combined Authority are poised to approve a landmark skills investment. This initiative aims to cultivate a new generation of skilled local workers specializing in electric vehicle (EV) and battery technology.
Leading this transformative project is MADE NE (Manufacturing, Automation, Digitalisation, Electrification North East), spearheaded by Nissan in collaboration with various partners within the automotive sector. The initiative will establish state-of-the-art training facilities across two sites at the International Advanced Manufacturing Strategic Site (IAMSS) in Sunderland.
With a significant investment of £14.6 million, including £9.7 million in support from the Combined Authority, MADE NE will offer open-access facilities dedicated to skills training in the advanced manufacturing sector, with a particular focus on EV and battery manufacturing. This project spans the entire spectrum of skills development, from primary education to apprenticeships and in-work training, ensuring comprehensive support for the region’s industrial innovation projects through funding and equipment.
The proposal will be reviewed by the North East Combined Authority Cabinet on Tuesday, July 30. MADE NE is the inaugural project under the region’s Investment Zone, a £160 million, 10-year program anticipated to create over 4,000 jobs and attract £3 billion in private sector investment.
Mayor Kim McGuinness expressed her enthusiasm, stating, “In my manifesto, I promised to back our world-leading automotive industry. Now we are delivering. This investment will unlock a generation of skilled workers and create opportunities for local people and businesses. It cements our reputation as a global success story in advanced manufacturing and shows how we can lead the industries of the future. The investment shows how we can make the North East the home of real opportunity by backing local workers and businesses – so our area has good, well-paid, high-skilled jobs and training on the doorstep.“
Adam Pennick, Vice President of Manufacturing at Nissan Sunderland Plant, highlighted the project’s significance, saying, “To build the cars of the future, you need the skills of the future. This fantastic new facility will help find the talent, nurture the technical skills, and drive the spirit of innovation that will power advanced automotive manufacturing in the UK. Nissan Sunderland is proud of its track record on skills development and we know that to deliver our EV36Zero vision we need to do more. That’s why we are excited to be leading this collaborative long-term project to take skills development to the next level, for the benefit of the North East of England.”
Cllr Michael Mordey, Cabinet Member for Finance and Investment and Leader of Sunderland City Council, added, “We are proud that Sunderland is the beating heart of the most important economic motor this region has, and that – in securing this investment – we can continue to drive its success with talented, highly-skilled people, trained in the city and able to contribute to the success of this whole region. And indeed to ensure that the supply chain is developed with the availability of a world-class workforce. Our location – at the heart of the region – means that we are well-positioned to support people right across the North East to access world-class training that will enable them to take up green jobs as we transition to electrification. It cements our position on a global stage – an internationally competitive, ambitious city that is leading the way in the race to a more sustainable future, at the heart of a region that can play a huge part in the success of UK Plc.”
MADE NE is designed to be self-sustaining within five years, generating revenue through apprenticeship programs, sub-letting space to businesses aligned with the project’s goals, and making Nissan’s training commercially available to benefit a broader audience. The plan has been meticulously developed in partnership with the Combined Authority, Sunderland City Council, Education Partnership North East (EPNE), New College Durham, AESC, Vantec, Newcastle University, the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult, and the North East Automotive Alliance (NEAA).
This ambitious project is set to place the North East at the forefront of the automotive industry’s future, providing a robust foundation for the region’s workforce and reinforcing its reputation as a global leader in advanced manufacturing.
