Middlesbrough Town Hall has been awarded a £1m Arts Council funding grant to further its music programme once reopened.
The Grade II* Listed building is currently undergoing major multi-million pound refurbishment works and is set to reopen in spring 2018.
And there is now further good news after the Arts Council announced the popular town centre venue would receive £249,000-a-year for a four year period from the reopening date.
The money comes from the Arts Council’s National Portfolio funding programme for organisations to deliver arts and cultural activity.
In making the bid Middlesbrough Council pointed to the refurbishment and expansion of space as a “unique opportunity” and that the Town Hall is the largest performance venue in the southern region of the North East and is central to the emerging Middlesbrough Cultural Quarter.
Cllr Mick Thompson, Middlesbrough Council’s Executive Member for Culture and Communities, said: “The announcement from the Arts Council is very exciting news for Middlesbrough Town Hall.
“As most people probably know the Town Hall is currently undergoing a near £8m refurbishment. The funding announced will kick in to coincide with the spring 2018 reopening and will support the venue in realising an ambitious programme of classical music, jazz, folk and world music performances and various participation opportunities.
“It is a great boost to the plans we already have to make sure Middlesbrough Town Hall is the number one vibrant and creative hub for music, performing arts and artistic development in the Tees Valley, accessible to all.”
Middlesbrough Mayor Dave Budd, who is also culture and tourism lead at Tees Valley Combined Authority, said: “A strong and vibrant arts and cultural sector can have a positive impact on an area’s overall wellbeing. Not only does it attract visitors to Tees Valley, but helps make the area a better place to live, work and do business.
“The Arts Council has recognised the excellence that exists within this sector and the standard of work being undertaken to further enhance it.”
Works on the Grade II* Listed building have been made possible via £3.7m funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and £4m from Middlesbrough Council.
Over £2.1 million is now available for small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Tees Valley for training. The Skills Support for the Workforce project offers fully funded training to help SMEs fill skill gaps, raise productivity, and boost business growth.
Staff development through professionally delivered training, offered at no cost to a business, can help to increase productivity, motivate and engage staff, and improve employee retention.
“In addition to giving access to a wide range of training courses and qualifications, this project provides businesses with expert support to identify their existing skills gaps, and to pinpoint the skills they’ll need in future to facilitate their growth plans,” explained Andrew Lewis, Managing Director of Tees Valley Combined Authority. “Accessing support through this project can improve your ability to adapt to the evolving business environment in Tees Valley, nurture a leadership team for the future and make you an employer of choice for emerging talent.”
“By training your staff you can improve your ability to adapt to a rapidly changing business environment, nurture a leadership team for the future, and make you an employer of choice for emerging talent,” explained Ebrahim Dockrat, Director of Calderdale College, the main contractor for the project.
Research has found that employees who undertake non-compulsory work-related training do their jobs better and are more satisfied with their work, but a lack of time and possible costs can act as barriers to accessing training. The Skills Support for the Workforce project is designed to address these challenges.
The project is co-financed by the European Union’s European Social Fund and the Skills Funding Agency and is available for SMEs seeking non-compulsory work-based training to support their business growth plan.
“As this training is funded with European money this is the last project of its kind,” explained Mr Dockrat. “This funding is only available until July 2018 and so it’s a case of get it whilst you still can.”
The Tees Valley is an important location for UK manufacturing and contributes £12 billion to the national economy. Recently there has been major investment in innovative new technologies such as subsea, biologics, and energy from waste. However, the shortage of skills in the process and offshore sectors has resulted in a dependency on imported skills.
Delivered by Calderdale College, the country’s largest provider of European Social Fund funded training, through local providers, the training is for businesses operating in advanced manufacturing and engineering; digital and creative; chemical; low carbon; energy; logistics; business and professional services; culture and leisure; and health and biologics.
For more information and to see if your business is eligible for fully funded training please visit http://ssw.fundingunit.org.uk/
A partnership for the future at the heart of Middlesbrough.
When we identified a key town centre site as ideal for conversion to a hotel, Middlesbrough Council worked with us to enable the project to happen.
We knew there was strong demand for hotel rooms at an affordable price, but it would take vision, ambition and creativity to make the dream a reality.
Over a period of twelve months we did our research and drew up our business case, working closely with the Council on the progress we were making and the issues we faced.
The Council’s far-sighted decision to provide a £5.8m loan towards the overall cost of the project ensured it got off the ground, and underpins the success story we see today.
The Holiday Inn Express has performed well since opening – which led to us extending it with further support from the Council, and it in turn is acting as a catalyst for investment in the town centre.
Middlesbrough Council’s willingness to work with developers to progress its vision will stand the town in good stead for future generations.
From start to finish our experience of working with the Council has been extremely positive, and as a result we are already committed to other development projects in the town.
This has been good business for Ashall, but it is also delivering long term, sustainable benefits not just for Middlesbrough but for the economy of the whole area.
Projects like these not only create jobs and prosperity, but also serve as a beacon to other entrepreneurs and investors that Middlesbrough really is a great place to do business.
Mark Ashall, Managing Director,
Ashall Projects Ltd.
The knowledge and expertise of former Middlesbrough College students has helped a Teesside branch of Thomas Cook take a national title.
The store at Teesside Retail Park won the accolade of branch of the year after a visit by a mystery shopper showed the staff to be miles better!
Four former students work at the travel centre including 19-year-old Sophie Bower -a modern apprentice – who achieved a remarkable 97 per cent mark from the incognito visitor.
“I was really pleased to get such a high mark – I just followed the training- and obviously it works.
“I haven’t been able to travel much myself yet – I went to London and Paris when I was at college but I’m really looking forward to the opportunities working here presents. I’d love to go to New York one day.”
Kerry Dixon co-ordinator for level 3 Travel and Aviation at Middlesbrough College was on hand to congratulate the team.
She explained the College has had a long-term and very successful relationship with Thomas Cook with many students going on to work in travel centres and for its airline.
Other employees who are also former students are Megan Rennison, 20, a former aviation student who has worked at Thomas Cook for one and a half years; Jenny Himsworth, 29, who has been there for seven years and Emma Kirby, 28, a former travel student with ten years at the firm.
Emma, who lives in Marton, said: “I really enjoy working here and sharing in people’s excitement about planning and booking their trips and adventures.”
Sue Nelson, store manager, said: “Over the years we have built up a great relationship with the college. We know that when we get students they will be of a high calibre, have a good work ethic, an understanding of the industry and great customer service skills.”
