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Talent engine boosts drive for 10,000 regional jobs

8 December 2022

A new North East regional tech talent engine has gone live this week, supporting an ambition to create 10,000 new digital jobs for the region – and Opencast is one of the main backers of the initiative.

The much-anticipated tech talent engine (TTE), now live online, has been set up to drive collaboration across the region, to strengthen the tech talent pipeline and support the sustainable growth of the North East digital sector. The programme brings together employers from all sectors, education providers, and people who are looking for tech and digital jobs within the region.

Managed by Sunderland Software City, the TTE project is funded by the North of Tyne Combined Authority's digital growth and innovation programme, as well as support from founding sponsors Opencast, Newcastle University and MediaWorks.

The talent shortage is one of the biggest single challenges facing tech businesses in the North East, so Opencast is pleased to support the launch of the new engine. It aims to help fill the 4000 digital job vacancies that exist in the region and which represent 21% of all job openings.

The engine was launched at Newcastle’s Core on 7 December – and Opencast chief people officer Cate Kalson and head of talent engagement Lorna Madden shared the company’s perspective on jobs and talent with the launch audience.

Colour photo of two women on stage with one speaking at lecture
OC's Cate Kalson (left) and Lorna Madden at the TTE launch

Opencast key backer of initiative

Commenting on the launch, Cate said: "I was very proud to attend the launch of the tech talent engine, having worked closely with Dynamo, Sunderland Software City and the North of Tyne Combined Authority to establish the initiative over the past two years.

“At Opencast we are completely behind this initiative. We passionately believe that by collaborating with regional government and education providers as a group of innovative, people-focused employers, we can have a bigger impact on growing the North East's tech talent ecosystem than if we work as individual companies."

Lorna added: "It was fantastic to see a demonstration of the new platform this week. We're looking forward to showcasing the diverse routes that many of our Opencast colleagues have taken into tech roles, and inspiring more people in the North East to apply for our training programme roles via the platform.

“It was encouraging to see how the TTE team is supporting businesses with inclusive practices, and I'm particularly looking forward to the engine supporting better collaboration between the public, private and education providers – and being part of a collective that will make a difference to the region’s tech sector."

The TTE project supports regional businesses, particularly SMEs, to raise the profile of their digital and tech opportunities to attract the talent they need to fuel their growth by creating mass awareness of tech career opportunities - ensuring business and employees understand the skills and available job openings.

The engine will help support the development of the talent pipeline, and the NTCA’s wider ambition over the next five years to create:

  • 10,000 new tech and digital employees entering the North East workforce
  • 1,300 new tech businesses
  • £425m increase in tech company revenues.

Visit the new tech talent engine website.

We're looking forward to showcasing the diverse routes that many of our Opencast colleagues have taken into tech roles, and inspiring more people in the North East to apply for our training programme roles via the platform

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