Great people
Recruiting and retaining the right people is crucial to your business' success.
We have a working population of 121,500, increasing to over 400,000 across the Tees Valley region. Our workforce has skills that can be used in a range of sectors and occupations. A third of residents are currently working in high-value professions and almost a third are qualified to degree level or above. Our workforce is committed and has a real pride in the Borough and a desire for it to succeed.
Developing the next generation of workers is hugely important and our schools and businesses are working together to inspire and encourage students to get the skills they need to succeed. There are programmes and services in place to support skills development as well as a careers and apprenticeship portal, Tees Valley Careers. There is also a range of training providers delivering everything from entry level qualifications up to higher level degree programmes and beyond.
Devolved funding to the Tees Valley Combined Authority puts the region in an ideal position to ensure that businesses are central to developing learning and training that is fit for purpose and flexible to respond to your needs.
Investing in the future
We are proactive in upskilling our workforce too. Stockton-on-Tees is already heavily involved in an ambitious plan to offer apprenticeships and in-work training. We have opened an Employment and Training Hub that helps people become work ready. We have a dedicated team of experts to help with everything employment and training related including:
- employability support (CV writing, interview techniques)
- job searches
- apprenticeships
- skills, education and training
- English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
- funding and benefits advice
- 1-to-1 support
With a great network of colleges in the area and Teesside University close by, you can be sure that Stockton-on-Tees has the workforce to meet your needs. The Education Training Collective (or Etc.) is a group of 5 colleges, 4 of which are based in Stockton-on-Tees. With great emphasis on collaboration with employers, it is working to address the skills gap and meet the wider economic demands of the region.
Great quality of life
200,000 people call the Borough of Stockton-on-Tees home. They live in our thriving towns of Billingham, Ingleby Barwick, Norton, Stockton, Thornaby and Yarm, and our rural villages. Our population is increasing, with a 2.8% rise over the last 7 years. The growing community is supported by a strong and active voluntary, community and social enterprise sector.
We have one of the highest employment rates in the Tees Valley and the North East. In recent years Stockton-on-Tees has also had the highest rate of new enterprises in the Tees Valley and has the highest number of active businesses. It is an exciting place to be.