A legacy of skills development

TDR is maintaining its tradition of being at the forefront of engineering, manufacturing and science training in the North East, having supported industry and shaped careers for more than a century.

Its story began in 1882, when pioneering Victorian engineer William Doxford founded the North East Coast Engineering Trust.

Doxford’s vision was to secure the future of engineering by nurturing skills across generations.

That legacy lives on through the TDR Trust, the independent charity dedicated to building a world-class skills base in the region.

A major milestone came in 2012 with the acquisition of TDR’s training centre at North Tyneside’s Quorum Business Park, which allowed it to expand and adapt to evolving industry needs.

In 2016, with support from British Engines, TDR inherited the former Rolls-Royce Vickers training base on Scotswood Road – a site rich in local engineering history – further strengthening its capacity to deliver high- quality training.

In 2022, TDR relocated practical training operations from Scotswood Road to its Quorum Business Park headquarters.

This brought facilities under one roof, creating a fully-equipped centre covering mechanical and electrical engineering, maintenance, turning, milling, CNC, hand fitting, welding and fabrication.

And under the leadership of chair and longstanding skills development advocate Olivia Grant, TDR continues to lead with purpose.

Olivia says: “Apprentices can become highly qualified engineers – a skill and role that enables long-term growth and vital opportunities.

“Our role is to foster and support apprentices and employers to ensure that.”

Today, TDR partners with employers, educational institutions and community organisations to deliver impactful apprenticeship programmes, industry-led training and initiatives like the Dodd Technical Development Fund.

Ron Dodd, TDR president and respected engineering leader, has been instrumental in developing and advancing its mission.

He says: “To stay abreast of, and compete with, emerging technologies, innovation and global competition, as a nation we need to continually attract, train and develop engineers and scientists for the future.

“TDR’s ethos aligns with this, and we continually develop training facilities, equipment and training courses to develop the skills needed to compete.

“The ultimate beneficiaries of our programmes are employers and wealth creators in the North East and the UK economy.”

Despite changes over time, TDR’s mission remains the same: to create opportunity, inspire future engineers and advance the North East’s proud industrial legacy.

Its motto – By Science, Industry and Honour – adopted in 1884, still reflects the values it proudly upholds today.

TDR
www.tdrtraining.co.uk
LinkedIn: TDR Training & Trust