Education leader raises key issues with PM during visit

leader Ellen Thinnesen was invited to meet with the Prime Minster and members of his cabinet during their visit to Sunderland last week.

She joined the University of Sunderland, alongside the city’s business and community leaders and young people, at a reception in the National Glass Centre.

Ms Thinnesen – chief executive of Education Partnership North East, which includes Sunderland College, Hartlepool Sixth Form and Northumberland College – urged Boris Johnson and his cabinet members to ensure skills and training remain a Government priority.

She expanded on discussions with Sajid Javid, Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Rishi Sunak, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, further raising the priority of funding for apprenticeships to support small and medium sized businesses across the country, and funding for training and retraining adults to support shift in workforce skills needs following Brexit.

She said afterwards: “I am extremely grateful to the University of Sunderland for inviting myself, along with our apprentices and my colEducation leagues from other industries across the city, to join a reception with the Prime Minister and his cabinet.

“It was an excellent opportunity to express how critical it is that this Government ensures further education and skills, and its relationship to levelling up the North East economy, remains high on the political agenda.

Other points Ms Thinnesen said she highlighted with them included the need to “deliver on manifesto promises, including a proposed and long overdue £2billion investment in college infrastructure”.