Member news
3 September 2026
by Katy Bambrough

Taking care of your business: How EPNE is driving regional growth

From recruiting the next generation of talent to upskilling your existing workforce, EPNE helps businesses unlock their full potential. Partnering with over 600 employers every year, we're building the skilled workforce the North East needs to succeed.

Education Partnership North East (EPNE) is a dynamic partnership between Sunderland College, Northumberland College, and Hartlepool Sixth Form College. As a leading college group, we play a vital role in strengthening the region’s workforce, partnering with more than 600 employers every year. 

Whether you want to recruit fresh talent, upskill your current team, or bridge specific skills gaps, we support your workforce needs from end to end and help you identify exactly what training you need to stay competitive in your market: 

  • Apprenticeships 
  • Vocational Courses 
  • Bespoke Training Programmes  
  • Leadership and Management Training 
  • Professional Development Programmes 
  • Virtual Learning 
  • T Level/Industry Work Placements 


A partnership built on support 

Peter Robertson, Head of Business Development at EPNE explains “most employers recognise that they need to develop their workforce, but don’t know what support is available or where to start.”  

To take the guesswork out of training, every business is paired with a dedicated Account Manager who is your expert point of contact, guiding you from start to finish. 

Industry leaders consistently value this support. Paula McDonald, Learning and Development Business Partner at Gentoo said: 

“We have worked in partnership with EPNE for the past 12 years. The partnership has helped us strengthen our talent pipeline, address skills gaps and support the development of future construction and housing professionals. This long-standing partnership demonstrates the positive impact achieved when education and employers work together.”  

Sarah Morgan, Business Manager at Sunderland Care and Support, added: 

“As an employer, it can sometimes be challenging to understand the training opportunities available to us. We have partnered with EPNE for many years, and they consistently support us by identifying our workforce development needs, aligning them with suitable training and qualifications.” 


If you’d like to know more about how EPNE can support your business, find out more here.


 

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