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North East Workforce Skills

Our North East Workforce Skills Programme provides funding through the European Union Social Fund (ESF). It aims to support businesses within the North East LEP area with their workforce skills development.

Educate. Invest. Achieve. Progress.

European Social Fund logo

General courses

Three women look at a laptop.
Part-time

Menopause in the Workplace

Learn what to expect when the menopause happens, and what your next steps might be in the workplace.

Find out more about Menopause in the Workplace
A man mentoring an employee while he works.
Part-time

Mentoring for Apprentices

Explore the principles and practices of guidance and mentoring skills and how to apply these to support development of apprentices.

Find out more about Mentoring for Apprentices

Childhood studies courses

An adult talking to a child
Part-time

Infant Mental Health

This ten-week short course will help those working with young people and families to expand their knowledge on infant mental health and development by exploring professional responses to the wide range of problems families struggle with.

Find out more about Infant Mental Health
A family with a young child speak to a woman sat at a desk.
Part-time

Postgraduate Certificate Early Childhood Practice

Discover how to advocate for young children’s rights. Promote holistic child development. Learn how to work directly with families.

Find out more about Postgraduate Certificate Early Childhood Practice

Education courses

An academic giving a lecture in front of a whiteboard
Part-time

Gender and Diversity

Over ten weeks, this short course will help those working in educational settings to understand and celebrate gender diversity, as well as understand the dangers pupils may face and how to support them.

Find out more about Gender and Diversity
A teacher helping a pupil read a book
Part-time

Leadership in Educational Settings

This level 7 online masterclass will help leaders in an educational setting to identify behaviours, and give them the skillset to evaluate the impact they have in a work environment. 

Find out more about Leadership in Educational Settings

Engineering courses

engineering
Part-time

Introduction to Warehousing and Inventory Management

This one-day short course will explore the most effective ways to improve warehousing operations in your workplace. Covering topics including how to reduce effort and costs around materials management, you will be able to use the knowledge and skillset achieved on this course to progress your career in engineering.

Find out more about Introduction to Warehousing and Inventory Management
A group of engineers working on a machine
Part-time

Maintenance Strategy

This short course will explore the history and development of modern maintenance strategies. You will learn to sustain maximum equipment and operations efficiency, and develop solutions that go beyond maintenance to benefit your organisation.

Find out more about Maintenance Strategy
An engineer wearing a hard hat speaking into a walkie-talkie.
Part-time

Practical Problem Solving and Root Cause Analysis

This short course will allow you to learn to understand a problem and prescribe a suitable solution. Topics include analysing issues, understanding their underlying causes, and implementing permanent solutions.

Find out more about Practical Problem Solving and Root Cause Analysis
A group of engineers look at equipment
Part-time

Project Planning

This one-day short course will help you learn the basics in methods of project planning, to help enhance your knowledge and skillset to further your professional career.

Find out more about Project Planning

Health courses

A hospital ward.
Part-time

Practice Assessor Training Masterclass

Expand your skillset as a Practice Assessor. Learn while you work. Progress in your career.

Find out more about Practice Assessor Training Masterclass
An empty hospital ward
Part-time

Undergraduate/Postgraduate Certificate of Achievement in Improving Clinical Practice in Palliative and End of Life Care

This course considers the many components that contribute to the delivery of quality care. The module will focus on the patient journey, patient choice and preferred place of care.

Find out more about Undergraduate/Postgraduate Certificate of Achievement in Improving Clinical Practice in Palliative and End of Life Care

Leadership courses

A manager making a presentation to a colleague
Part-time

Introduction to Leadership

This short course will help leaders and managers reflect on their roles in the workplace, assessing your personal and professional qualities, and exploring how to effectively lead yourself and others.

Find out more about Introduction to Leadership
Two men and a woman laughing with each other.
Part-time

Mental Health Awareness Masterclass

This masterclass will help leaders, managers and interested peers working in any sector to support staff who might be struggling with their mental health.  

Find out more about Mental Health Awareness Masterclass
A manager laughing with employees
Part-time

Postgraduate Certificate in Leadership and Change via Study Centres

This course has been designed to help you develop your skills and become a better leader. You will learn how to recognise and apply the theories related to effective management, leadership, and change management.

Find out more about Leadership and Change via Study Centres

Media and digital courses

An influencer speaking into a microphone while filming on her phone
Part-time

Getting Started with Social Media for Small Businesses

This one-day short course will help you to harness the enormous potential of social media marketing for your small business. Learn the most effective methods and platforms that will help you reach your business goals.

Find out more about Getting Started with Social Media for Small Businesses
A man and woman speak over paper documents
Part-time

Marketing Masterclass

Learn to develop an effective marketing strategy. Enhance the knowledge and skillsets in your workforce. Progress in your career and support the success of your business.

Find out more about Marketing Masterclass
A video camera
Part-time

Shoot, Edit, Share: Getting Started in Video Marketing

This course will help you gain the knowledge and skillset to create video content tailored for your target audience. Learn how to shoot, edit, and effectively share your content to make an impact in the digital sector.

Find out more about Shoot, Edit, Share: Getting Started in Video Marketing
A man smiling as he talks into a radio microphone.
Part-time

Getting started in Podcasting

Explore the key concepts of podcasting and the production methods used.

Find out more about Getting started in Podcasting

Practice nurse courses

Psychology courses

A student smiling
Part-time

Personality Development across the Life Cycle

This module will meet the standards set by the ACP (Association of Child Psychotherapists) as part of the entry standards for the clinical training inChild and Adolescent Psychotherapy. Study on a part-time basis, one Saturday a month.  

Find out more about Personality Development across the Life Cycle

Social work courses

A group of people in suits talking to each other.
Part-time

Practice Educator

Build on your knowledge and skills. Learn while you work. Contribute to the development of others as a practice educator.

Find out more about Practice Educator

Helping upskill your workforce

The University of Sunderland is part of the North East Workforce Skills Programme. We work with employers to provide work-based learning solutions to upskill the workforce within the North East LEP area.

The University has a dedicated team to support this ESF funded project. Our mission is to work with professionals, and organisations alike, to provide a bespoke service for learning and development.

All organisations within the North East LEP area can access the project funding. Organisations can be of any size and do not have to be a levy payer or sharer to access the programme.

Funding at no additional cost

The project includes a suite of funded courses which have been designed by the University and cover a broad range of subjects, including business, engineering, health, media, teaching, social work, investigation, leadership, workplace wellbeing.

These funded courses will run at various stages throughout the year and will have a set number of places available.

Give our team a call to discuss how accessing this fantastic programme can help your business with upskilling, investing and retaining your staff all fully funded.

Call 0191 515 3361 or esf@sunderland.ac.uk.

Sign up today

1. Contact our team and complete Commitment Form & Company Data Capture Form

2. Confirm commitment to the ESF publicity and document retention policies. Our team can provide further guidance on this process – where applicable

3. Provide names and details of staff who are interested in completing CPD. We will provide you with an online application form link to enrol them on the chosen courses or an application form (subject to availability).

4. We will complete enrolment paperwork and provide you with start dates and information.

5. Finally, continued support from our ESF team will guide your company and workforce through your required CPD objectives.

Contact us

For more information contact the ESF team on 0191 515 3361 or email esf@sunderland.ac.uk.