Last word with Toni Rhodes

www.educationpartnershipne.ac.uk

LinkedIn: Education Partnership North East

Congratulations on your new role.

What are your key priorities and ambitions as chief executive, and how do you hope to shape the future of Education Partnership North East?

I’m incredibly proud to have been appointed chief executive.

I’d firstly like to express my sincere thanks to Ellen Thinnesen for her outstanding leadership and transformative contribution to the group.

Ellen has been an inspirational driving force, and I wish her every success in her new role as Further Education Commissioner.

Looking ahead, my key priorities are focused on delivering our strategic plan, which runs to 2030, and ensuring our colleges continue to unlock potential, create opportunities and transform lives through outstanding education, skills and training.

Our ambitions include strengthening our curriculum, so it remains innovative, future-focused, shaped by our learners and responsive to the needs of employers.

We also aim to deepen our partnerships with communities, industry, schools, universities and civic leaders.

We are committed to ensuring that everyone – regardless of background – has access to high-quality education, exceptional support and real pathways into skilled employment.

Our colleges play a vital role at the heart of our communities, and I’m looking forward to working with our dedicated and passionate colleagues and partners to build on our successes.

Your appointment comes at an exciting time, with Education Partnership North East’s recently opened Housing Innovation and Construction Skills Academy in Sunderland set to be complemented by a £54 million Northumberland College Ashington campus later this year.

What impact will these flagship investments have on students’ learning and outcomes?

These changemaking investments will have a transformative impact on our students’ learning and future opportunities.

The Housing Innovation and Construction Skills Academy is already providing learners with access to new facilities, modern methods of construction and real industry environments.

It is also enabling close collaboration with partners including Northumbria University, Gentoo, Velux and Ambion Heating.

This ensures learners gain the advanced technical skills and knowledge employers demand.

Our trailblazing Ashington campus will take this even further.

It will offer exceptional, future-focused spaces across engineering, construction, health sciences, digital and creative sectors, special educational needs and disabilities, and much more.

This campus represents one of the most significant educational investments in Northumberland in decades.

It will make a major contribution to the regeneration of Ashington, bringing footfall, opportunity and increased pride to the town.

Together, these investments will enhance outcomes, open new career pathways and ensure learners of all ages benefit from high-quality education that strengthens communities and drives regional growth.

A disconnect between education and industry has long been cited by employers as a key factor in skills gaps.

But Education Partnership North East has made – and continues to make – great strides in strengthening relationships with commercial operators.

How will that continue under your leadership, and are there any fresh initiatives you’re keen to introduce?

Strengthening the relationship between education and industry will always remain a top priority.

We have made significant progress in recent years, and are committed to building on that momentum to ensure our curriculum and teaching remain closely aligned with employers’ evolving needs.

We will continue to work with businesses on co-designing programmes.

We will also expand industry placements.

And we will ensure learners gain the technical expertise, behaviours and real-world experience that translate directly into employment.

There will also be an increased focus on our place-based approach.

This includes removing barriers to education for those who are currently not in employment, education or training.

Our goal is for employers to see us not just as an education provider, but as a true partner in regional growth and talent development.