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tees valley skills newsletter

TEES VALLEY SKILLSNEWSLETTER

Digital SkillsISSUE: 16

Digital studio to nurture home grown animation talentA digital design studio at Teesside University which taps into home grown animation talent is helping steer graduates towards their professional careers. Launched last year in the University’s School of Computing, Media & the Arts, the studio has already completed high profile commissions for Public Health England and Durham Police, along with Random Acts Network Centre North, a joint initiative between Channel 4 and Arts Council England.

The Random Acts animation titled Doughbutt is due to be broadcast and released on Channel 4’s online platforms in December. The animations for Public Health England were created by the studio collaboratively with graphic design academics in the University’s School of Science, Engineering & Design. The short animations which focus on weight management and obesity are aimed at GPs and their patients.

The Durham Police commission involves animated films to ensure small businesses are aware of cyber security.

Tim Brunton, Senior Lecturer in Games Animation, heads the studio with support from assistant producer Kayleigh Stevens and animator Rose Gibbin, both Teesside University graduates.

He said: “The studio is a mixing pot which is bringing together researchers, academics, students and graduates to collaborate on a variety of projects. “We get businesses wanting to work with us and tap into our expertise. The studio has an important role in helping the region’s digital economy to grow. We’re also here to support graduate businesses.

“A catalyst for the studio’s creation was the University’s graduate intern scheme and we aim to continue working with graduate interns in the future.”

Graduates, students, business and external organisations seeking to learn more about digital design studio can contact Tim Brunton on T.M.Brunton@tees.ac.uk. For more information on computing and animation courses at Teesside University visit: www.tees.ac.uk/computing.

Students open the door to virtual new worlds

Studying computer games development has proven an inspiration for students at Stockton Riverside College. Lessons learnt in the classroom have left one creative duo keen to push the boundaries on their newfound skills. Tasked with creating their own 3D game, Joseph Shannon and John Sutton, decided to take their design one step further, straight into the world of virtual reality.

Welcome to issue 16 of the Tees Valley Skills Newsletter, produced by Tees Valley Combined Authority. This issue will focus on the Digital and Creative sector.

There are currently over 6,500 people employed in this sector in Tees Valley and the area is fast becoming one of the most vibrant digital hubs in the UK with a successful and self-sustaining digital media, digital technology and creative super cluster, developing a worldwide reputation for creativity, imagination and inspirational vision.

This newsletter supports the Tees Valley Skills website – for regular updates please visit https://teesvalley-ca.gov.uk/teesvalleyskills/

Lecturer Paul Abley said: “Virtual reality isn’t part of the course as such but the students get so involved they often go above and beyond what is required.”Already creating their own 2D and 3D environments, Joseph and John said that their skills have come a long way since signing up for the course last year. Both had little to no knowledge of developing and designing games when they started out – yet today they are creating their own virtual worlds. With the latest high tech kit available to them at the college, Joseph, 18, from Stockton, said: “We thought that we would challenge ourselves and give it a go.”

John, 17, said: “It is very different playing a game than developing one. I quickly developed a passion for it and started to really enjoy it. I have spent a lot of time practising and trying to get better. Joseph added: “I now get to look back

on the games I played growing up and know I have the chance to make my own.”With technology developing all the time, both said the opportunities in the industry are vast – but you have got to have the enthusiasm and be prepared to do the work.

“It is not just restricted to gaming,” said Joseph. “Virtual reality can be used for anything from architecture to dentistry.”John added: “The technology is advancing all the time. There are car companies using it to make demos and you can even use it for culinary practice.” Whichever direction you choose both agree it is an exciting industry to be in.

Find out more about the computer games development courses available at Stockton Riverside College at: www.stockton.ac.uk/courses/computer-games-design/

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VIA Creative, the Middlesbrough based brand, design and web agency, has expanded its web team with the recent appointment of Teesside University graduate Martin Pollock to strengthen its core web team.

Dave Ramrekha, Managing Director at VIA Creative said, “Due to a wide range of bespoke web, app and software projects and with increased commissions from companies as far afield as London, we needed to recruit in a short period of time. Finding high calibre web developers in our region is becoming increasingly more difficult but luckily we have Teesside University on our doorstep and knew their Computer Science course graduates were finishing so we approached a number of graduates about the position. Martin’s development skills stood out and despite being thrown into a very busy summer period fresh from University he performed very well and has now secured a full time position within our agency.” In securing a full time position within the agency following his course at Teesside University Martin added, “Having moved over from Northern Ireland

to complete my degree I was extremely pleased to have been given the opportunity to find a full-time position right after finishing University. In just a few short months I’ve learned much more about the commercial aspects of web development at VIA and am excited to be working on the varied range of web and app projects the agency has in the pipeline to test my development knowledge even further.”

Dave added, “The appointment of Martin enhances our reputation for delivering consistently high quality branding and bespoke websites for a wide range of clients across many sectors. We have plans to develop our social media and digital marketing services in 2018 and another recruitment drive will be planned to complement our growth strategy.”

For more information on VIA Creative’s services, visit: www.viacreative.co.uk

Darlington College NCTJ journalism students and apprentices are being prepared for the ever-increasing digital output and consumption of news. Jasmin Hall, 25, is studying multimedia journalism at Darlington College.

This diploma course, accredited by The National Council for the Training of

Journalists, focuses on writing across a range of media platforms

including print, web, mobile and social media.

Jasmin explains “All students can access resources and sessions electronically through Google Classroom, a file sharing platform. Some of the apprentices, working remotely, take part in some sessions through

Google Hangout, a linkup streaming live footage from

the classroom. The days of students playing catch up from

handwritten notes and power point slides are long gone.”

Digital skills are at the forefront of journalism training

Teesside Graduate joins Middlesbrough creative agency Research Round Up

Traditional journalism such as shorthand, media law, ethics, public affairs, and broadcast journalism also has a central role in the course. These are the skills paramount for anyone starting out in the world of journalism. Today’s students also enjoy masterclasses on how to shoot and edit footage entirely on their mobile phones along with photography and analytics. They practice how to condense a news bulletin into a tweet. Social media has become a professional tool. A video journalism module also allows students to become familiar with video cameras and industry-standard editing software. Familiarity with radio broadcast equipment, microphones and booms,

and professional editing software, such as Apple Final Cut Pro, is taught in dedicated classes. The students’ work can be published professionally very quickly into the course through placements and apprenticeships. Students also aim to build their own online audience with a professional blog of their original content. For the NCTJ course, students are required to build a digital portfolio of work, including video and photographic content This article was written by Jasmin herself. Anyone interested in the course or an apprenticeship can get more information from: http://www.nctj.com/

Emerging Skills Needs of Tees ValleyThere are over 4,500 Digital and Creative jobs predicted in Tees Valley between now and 2024, with over a third of these new job opportunities and the rest replacement demand from those who will leave and retire. It is predicted that 80% of these jobs will require a Level 4 or above qualification.

Apprenticeship VacanciesBetween July and September 2017 there were 473 Tees Valley based apprenticeship vacancies advertised by the National Apprenticeship Service, over 40 of these were in Digital and Creative subjects.

For more information or to view other research reports please visit https://teesvalley-ca.gov.uk/partners-portal/skills/

Job VacanciesBetween January and December 2017 there were 26,200 Tees Valley based jobs advertised online. 2,840 of these jobs were in Digital and Creative, a 1% increase on 2016. The average salary for the 2,840 Digital and Creative jobs was £33,000.

ISSUE: 16 | Digital skills

tees valley skills newsletter tees valley skills newsletter

Over £2.1 million has been made available for businesses in Tees Valley to up-skill their workforce. Tees Valley has a well-recognised and growing business base in digital industries, however, some employers have reported that they find it difficult to recruit due to potential employees lacking academic qualifications. The Skills Support for the Workforce project offers fully funded training to help businesses fill skill gaps, raise productivity and boost business growth.

Staff development through professionally delivered training, offered at no cost to a business, can help to increase productivity, motivate and engage staff and improve employee retention. The scheme, which is co-financed by the European Union’s European Social Fund and the Education and Skills Funding Agency, launched last year, initially to give small to medium enterprises (SMEs) the

chance for their staff to gain professional training across a range of key skills and sectors, including digital and creative. This offer has now been extended to also include staff in larger businesses which fall within certain growth sectors.

The training courses cover a range of areas, such as Social Media Strategy and Branding, Digital Promotion, Media Skills and Marketing and Sales.

“We offer a range of flexible, bespoke training plans designed to help your business grow,” explained Ebrahim Dockrat, Director of External Funding at Calderdale College, the prime contractor for the project. “By training your staff you can improve your ability to adapt to a rapidly changing business environment, nurture a leadership team for the future and make you an employer of choice for emerging talent.”

Delivered by Calderdale College, one of the country’s largest providers of European Social Fund funded training, through local providers, the training is for businesses operating in Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering; Digital and Creative; Chemical; Low Carbon; Energy; Logistics; Business and Professional Services; Culture and Leisure; and Health and Biologics.

For more information and to see if your business is eligible for fully funded training please visit teesvalley.fundingunit.org.uk

Intelligent Travel Made Real in Stockton Did you know that roughly 54% of the world’s current population live in big cities? By 2050 that population will increase to 9 billion people, with many relying on public transport to get around.

If you’ve ever used an Oyster card or smartcard reader when travelling or seen the electronic signs on motorways then you’ve used the transportation and traffic management systems provided by Cubic. Cubic deliver tools for travellers to choose the smartest and easiest way to travel and pay for their journeys, and enable transportation authorities and agencies to manage demand across the entire transportation network – all in real-time. Every year, more than 24 billion transportation payment transactions are processed using Cubic payment and information systems worldwide.

Cubic have established a Global Operations Centre in Stockton which provides Service Desk & Technical support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to customers not only in the UK and Ireland but in Miami, San Francisco, Chicago, and Brisbane with plans to provide transport systems to New York and Boston.

Craig Walton (Operations Manager) said ‘We are very excited to have established such a facility here. I’m looking to put

Cubic on the Tees Valley map and tap into the considerable resource pool that exists in the region. We are working on some very interesting technologies and a fast-moving environment and are keen to develop skills locally to support.’

They plan to expand staff numbers in Stockton from 45 to 120 in the next 12 months. Positions available will include Service Desk staff and various technical IT support roles with responsibilities to support the real time transportation systems and ‘keep the world moving’. They provide full training to staff not familiar with the technology and systems they support.

Cubic also provide Software Development graduate placements suitable for Computer Science graduates and are hoping to expand in the future to include apprenticeships and graduate placements in their Global Operations Centre.

Mayor Ben Houchen said: “I am proud that a global and innovative company, such as Cubic, has decided to open and expand one of its customer support functions within Tees Valley.

“Not only is Cubic continuing to grow, which further stimulates the local economy and secures the region as a leader in technological innovation, but it is doing so in a way that makes a tangible and direct difference to people’s lives.

“I wholeheartedly support Cubic’s commitment to strengthen the region. The Combined Authority will be working closely with the business to help its plans come to fruition.”

For more information please visit us at www.cubic.com/transportation

Free training on offer for digital and creative businesses in Tees Valley

We value your feedback. To comment about this newsletter or to receive this newsletter electronically please e-mail: info@teesvalley-ca.gov.uk | Tel: 01642 524469

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Interested in becoming a Telecoms Engineer?Would you be interested in working as a Telecoms Engineer? They install, repair and maintain broadband, mobile phone and landline telephone networks. They also work on satellite, digital TV and fibre optic systems. The industry is growing with the latest roll-out of Broadband upgrades so there will be a number of new job opportunities coming to the Tees Valley area in the next few months. Jobs are well paid but often require travel. CableCom Training in Stockton can provide training courses to access future jobs including apprenticeships. Have a look at their website to see the typical job roles and the sort of skills they will be looking for.

Fast increasing demand at Middlesbrough-based brand agency, Better, is expected to help deliver new job growth at the firm’s Plenary House HQ over the coming months. The company, a specialist in brand development, design, web and digital marketing has already added four new recruits to its Middlesbrough workforce in the last year.

Hartlepool PR Agency firm, Publicity Seekers, has enjoyed further growth after expanding its workforce and moving to larger premises. The firm celebrated its 10th anniversary last year, has recently taken on two new members of staff and is expecting to make further appointments in the coming months.

New digital marketing agency, Hype, is expanding quickly and has moved into the Redcar creative space The Hub. The start-up firm offers web design, video and email marketing, branding, graphic design and social media management and has already taken on a part-time copywriter to assist with increasing demand.

Cubic Transportation Systems based in Stockton plan to expand staff numbers from 45 to approx 120 in the next 12 months. Positions available will include Service Desk staff and various technical IT support roles.

Care provider HC-One is creating 130 jobs at its Darlington support office following its purchase of 122 BUPA care homes. It is expected that roles will available across IT, sales, marketing, finance and hospitality functions. Newcastle-based Nigel Wright Recruitment has been hired by the firm to help fill the positions.

TEES VALLEY SKILLS EVENT 2017 HAILED A GREAT SUCCESS! The 6th Tees Valley Skills Event, which was held at Teesside University was bigger than ever with a significant number of employers and learning providers showcasing a wealth of opportunities for young people seeking careers advice and guidance in the region.

The event took place on Thursday 21st September at Teesside University and was attended by over 1,690 young people aged 14–18 from 30 Tees Valley schools, colleges and other education establishments with 125 staff members from schools, colleges and learning providers.

There were 75 exhibitor stands (of which 66 were individual organisations) exhibiting. Exhibitors included local and national employers, universities and learning providers such as British Steel, EDF, EE, ElringKlinger, Hart Biologics, JDR Cables, Nifco, Royal Navy, Sembcorp, Sirius Minerals, University of Leeds, Cumbria and Coventry (Scarborough campus) as well as all the Tees Valley Further Education and Sixth Form Colleges. Attendee’s took part in a range of interactive practice activities ranging from; virtual welding, carrying out

keyhole surgery, creating circuits and taking finger prints.This year’s Tees Valley Skills event video is available to watch on You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lr0MwEjnU5c The next Tees Valley Skills Event will be taking place in July 2018.

For more information please contact Kelly Britton-Hawes on 01642 524450 or email Kelly.Britton-Hawes@teesvalley-ca.gov.uk

If you would like this information in any other language or format e.g. large print or audio, please contact Tees Valley Combined Authority on (01642) 524400.

WHO’S RECRUITING THE TEES VALLEY ENTERPRISE ADVISER NETWORK CONTINUES TO GROW The Tees Valley Enterprise Adviser Network links volunteers from the world of work to Tees Valley learning establishments including; secondary schools, colleges and pupil referral units. A total of 55 Enterprise Advisers from 50 different companies have already been recruited along with 50 Tees Valley learning establishments. Employers supporting the programme range from sector areas including; ICT, Digital & Communications, Wholesale & Retail Trade, Transportation, Distribution & Storage, Construction and Advanced Manufacturing.

For contact details or information on how to get involved please contact Enterprise Coordinators Kim Upex or Philip Todd via the Tees Valley Careers Hub. https://teesvalley-ca.gov.uk/teesvalleyskills/2098-2/.

For more information about the Careers and Enterprise Company activities on a national basis visit https://www.careersandenterprise.co.uk/further support and free tool kits.

tees valley skills newsletter

ISSUE: 16 | dIGITAL SKILLS