Learning and Skills

Learning and Skills is Gateshead Council’s post‑16 education and training service, delivering apprenticeships and other programmes across Gateshead and the wider North East. As part of the council, they provide learning in venues and workplaces across the region, supporting over 11,000 learners with routes from entry level up to Level 6. They are one of the North East’s leading providers of post‑16 education and, as of September 2024, are Ofsted rated ‘good’. Learning and Skills is also the second largest local authority provider of apprenticeships in the UK, working with employers who want to recruit new apprentices or upskill existing staff. Their offer includes apprenticeships and professional development courses, employability programmes, community and family learning, essential skills (English, maths, ESOL and digital skills), provision for 14–19 year‑olds and specialist programmes for young people and adults with special educational needs. Apprenticeships are offered both with Gateshead Council and with local businesses in occupational areas such as business administration, customer service, ICT, digital marketing, events, teaching assistant and early years, with a mix of on‑ and off‑the‑job training and nationally recognised qualifications.