Overview
NICRE is working with the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences (SNES) and Lifelong Learning at Newcastle University to better understand the skills needs of rural businesses.
Building on the current work being undertaken by the Department of Education nationally looking at the skills needs of businesses, NICRE is focussing on the specific needs and challenges firms in rural areas face in accessing skills training.
This work includes businesses from all sectors located in rural areas and those which have rural firms as their target market, such as land agents, vets, rural consultants etc.
Our cross-university team is undertaking research with these businesses to identify their present and future skills needs. This will involve a combination of around 60 qualitative interviews and roundtables, alongside data from the NICRE business surveys 2021 and 2023.
If you run a business in the North East which falls into either of the above categories and would like to get involved, please contact Melanie Thompson-Glen.
