£14.6 million investment to boost EV and battery skills in the North East of England

• North East Mayor Kim McGuinness and leaders will approve a £14.6 million investment in EV and battery training.
• The MADE NE project, backed by £9.7 million, will establish training facilities at Sunderland’s IAMSS for all education levels.
• This initiative is part of a 10-year program, aiming to create 4,000 jobs and attract £3 billion.

The UK is ready for a skills revolution as North East Mayor Kim McGuinness approves £14.6 million investment in EV battery training

North East Mayor Kim McGuinness and local leaders are approving a significant investment in skills training for EV and battery technology in the UK. The project, known as MADE NE (Manufacturing, Automation, Digitalisation, Electrification North East), is spearheaded by Nissan and its partners. It aims to establish cutting-edge training facilities within Sunderland’s International Advanced Manufacturing Strategic Site (IAMSS).

This £14.6 million initiative, supported by a £9.7 million recommendation from the North East Combined Authority, targets the advanced manufacturing sector, focusing on EV and battery production. The facilities will offer comprehensive training, from primary school education to apprenticeships and in-work programs. Additionally, the centre will back industrial innovation projects with the necessary funding and resources.

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North East Combined Authority Cabinet will review the plans on the 30th of July. MADE NE is the flagship project of the region’s £160 million, 10-year Investment Zone program, expected to create at least 4,000 jobs and attract £3 billion in private investment.

Mayor McGuinness said:

“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.“

Having been elected into office in May this year (2024), Mayor McGuinness forms part of the Labour Party’s new leadership. As such, her backing of home-grown production and upskilling aligns with Labour’s vision for a future British green automotive economy. 

Adam Pennick, Vice President, Manufacturing, at Nissan Sunderland Plant, added: 

“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.”

MADE NE aims to be self-sustaining within five years. It’ll generate revenue through apprenticeships, sub-letting space to businesses, and offering commercial training. Key partners in the initiative include the Combined Authority, Sunderland City Council, Education Partnership North East, New College Durham, and others.

This project will position the North East as a leader in advanced manufacturing and sustainable innovation, cementing its reputation on the global stage. With gigafactories and substantial infrastructural investments, the UK is ready to become a global leader in the EV world.