Work has begun on a new £14.7m NETA Training facility in the Tees Valley designed to equip learners with the engineering and construction skills to meet core industrial demands.

The new centre was made possible with a £4.5m investment from the Town Deal Fund, through Thornaby Town Deal Board, delivered in partnership with Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council.

It was identified as one of the priority interventions set to bring long-term change and investment to Thornaby as part of its £23.9m Town Deal.

The Town Deal interventions were identified by the Thornaby Town Deal Board, a group of key public and private sector stakeholders, who steered the Town Investment Plan to help prioritise investment in this key asset.

Significant funding has also been secured from the Department for Education and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Cutting ground at the new site off Princeton Avenue in Thornaby, NETA director, Sean Johnston, said: “This is the start of an incredible opportunity that will bring together NETA’s expertise and history of delivering engineering and construction training in the Tees Valley, with brand-new facilities.

“The industrial landscape is changing and at NETA we intend to be a part of the solution that enables both the existing and upcoming workforce in the Tees Valley to benefit from the opportunities this brings.”

From its new site, alongside Stockton Riverside College, NETA will continue to deliver training for school leavers, apprentices and commercial delegates, including those already working in the trades and employers looking to upskill their workforce.

In line with the government’s National Industrial Strategy and its focus on energy and infrastructure, the two-storey specialist engineering centre will comprise workshops for vocational training in the likes of welding, fabrication, electrical, mechanical and pipefitting, as well as domestic and commercial gas training.

All of this will be complemented by the NETA-led All Access Academy at Redcar and Cleveland College, home to the likes of specialist scaffolding, rope access and rigging and lifting training.

NETA Training, Stockton Riverside College and Redcar and Cleveland College are all part of the Education Training Collective (Etc.).

Etc. chief executive and group principal, Grant Glendinning, said: “We are pleased that with the support of the Thornaby Town Deal Board and Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, the Education Training Collective has been able to play a pivotal role in bringing further investment to Thornaby.

“Such projects put the spotlight on our part of the region and the level of talent and drive that exists here.  After 50 years delivering knowledge and expertise to industry professionals, and those starting out in their field, NETA Training will once again have facilities that match the calibre of its training.

“Through the new development in Thornaby, our aim is to equip people in the Tees Valley with the engineering and construction skills to find meaningful quality employment, meet the demands of growth sectors and at the same time showcase the region at its very best to the delegates and employers we work with from across the UK and beyond.”

Mark White, chair of Thornaby Town Deal Board, said: “I am delighted that work on this innovative project has begun. The new, state-of-the-art facility will help realise the Town Deal Board’s aspirations to bring long-term economic growth to the town.

“Bringing a campus of such scale and significance to its new home in Thornaby-on-Tees is testament to the scale of ambition for the Town Deal interventions and the hard work of the Town Deal Board.

“I am looking forward to seeing the work progress and seeing the fantastic spaces that will be on offer for up-and-coming engineers.”