Bishop Auckland College Group has proudly hosted a unique roundtable discussion at The McIntyre Centre, designed to turn national lifelong learning ambitions into concrete solutions for County Durham and the wider region.

The unique event, part of the national Get the Nation Learning campaign, brought together regional stakeholders from education, local government, business and the voluntary sector, alongside Dr Sam Rushworth, Labour MP for Bishop Auckland, to chart a path forward for adult education in the area.

The discussion was led by guest expert Dr. Emily Andrews, Director of Policy & Research at Learning and Work Institute (L&W), and hosted by Shaun Hope, CEO of Bishop Auckland College Group.

The roundtable followed L&W’s landmark Ambition Skills report, which suggested the UK must double adult participation in skills training to remain globally competitive.

Doing so would unlock a staggering £22bn boost to the economy and deliver £8bn in annual savings to the taxpayer.

For County Durham, where around 27 per cent of adults have low or no qualifications, compared with 18 per cent nationally, addressing this challenge is critical.

Dr Andrews said: “Getting the nation learning is something that will be realised in places. To make the most of the resources we have, as communities we have to collaborate, with providers, employers and local authorities.

“This collaboration will unlock the challenge of getting adult learning back to where we want to be. I feel heartened by the relationships we had in the room today and it was a privilege to be here.”

The discussions zeroed in on how local partnerships – including the Durham Learning Alliance and the County Durham Learning and Skills Team – can tackle regional issues, such as an ageing workforce needing reskilling and skills gaps in key growth sectors like construction, digital services and health.

Sam Rushworth MP said: “The big picture is that we don’t have the skills in the country to deliver on national missions, such as 1.5m new homes, net zero energy and health and social care. We need to improve skills in the country.

“The McIntyre Centre and Bishop Auckland College are improving the skills base we are going to need for a growing hospitality sector here. We live in a beautiful part of the world, with the potential to grow the hospitality sector here, and we know there is a shortage of skilled staff.”

To showcase how practical skills are acquired, the MP joined students in the McIntyre Centre’s training kitchen for a cooking session.

Dr Rushworth, who admitted he loves cooking at home, was thrilled with the hands-on experience. “Today has been fantastic. It was brilliant to be shown how to create a new recipe, which was fish cake with a lime kick to it on a hollandaise sauce.”

The McIntyre Centre itself, which functions as a working training kitchen and public restaurant run by Bishop Auckland College students and tutors, served as the ideal backdrop for the discussion, spotlighting training in catering and hospitality – a key sector for local job growth.

Shaun Hope, Principal and CEO of Bishop Auckland College Group, said: “It was important for us to back the ‘Get The Nation Learning’ campaign because we fundamentally believe that learning unlocks successful futures for our students, local residents and our communities.

“We are extremely grateful to Dr Emily Andrews for joining us today and making the visit up from London. We are of course extremely proud of the work that takes place every day at the McIntyre Centre and our vast array of local partners we work with, from the County Council Learning & Skills Team to North East Combined Authority and various charities.

“It was a privilege to spend time with Dr Andrews, showcasing what we do, and hearing of all the successes of our partners across County Durham and the wider region.”