BUSINESS Secretary Vince Cable will be in the region today to hand over cash from the government's flagship jobs scheme and back an ambitious drive to create more apprentices.

Dr Cable will begin the day by launching the Exporting is Great campaign in Newcastle which is designed to highlight the support available to small firms seeking to tap into lucrative overseas markets.

He will visit car parts manufacturer Gestamp Tallent Automotive in Newton Aycliffe to confirm funding announced in last year's regional growth fund to create hundreds of new jobs.

He then heads to chemical firm Sembcorp at Wilton, near Redcar which is getting a slice of the £150m Employer Ownership of Skills Pilot (EOP) to create apprenticeships across Durham and the Tees Valley.

The Sembcorp Skills Development Programme (SSDP) is a new apprenticeship and graduate training initiative aimed at 16-24-year-olds.

Led by Sembcorp Utilities UK and supported by some of the biggest names in process industry manufacturing, SSDP will make it easier for small and medium sized firms in the sector’s vitally important supply chain to take on apprentices and graduates.

For the first time it will also include training aimed at giving young people who qualify the skills they need to compete for an apprenticeship.

Using £3.4m of public money made available under   EOP, employers supporting SSDP include: Wilton-based Sembcorp, SABIC UK Petrochemicals, Huntsman Polyurethanes, CPI and Lotte Chemical along with Chemoxy International in Middlesbrough, Lucite International and Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies at Billingham, Aesica Pharmaceuticals in Cramlington, High Force Research in Durham, Fine Organics and Epax Pharma at Seal Sands and Exwold Technology and  Huntsman Tioxide at Greatham, near Hartlepool.

SSDP will help address the anticipated skills shortage within industry and will be managed by Sembcorp’s nominated delivery partner, the Darlington-based National Skills Academy for the Process Industries (NSAPI).

George Ritchie, senior vice president for human resources within Sembcorp Utilities UK and the architect of the successful bid, said: “This is a radical new departure from the way apprenticeships and graduate training programmes have been designed and delivered in the past.

“It is the first time we have really been given the freedom to design our own apprentice and graduate training and development programme. That means we can shape something specifically meeting our own needs and those of our supply chain partners as we face the challenges of the coming decades.

“Also, by giving those not currently in employment, education or training the basic skills they lack we are significantly enhancing their chances of getting meaningful employment in the future, possibly even via one of our apprenticeships.”

Other key partner organisations include the North East Process Industry Cluster (NEPIC) Tees Valley Unlimited (TVU) and the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS). 

Dr Cable's region wide tour will also take in visits to clothing firm J Barbour & Sons Limited and South Shields College.

The Business Secretary said: "Supporting more businesses to export is crucial for Britain and helps to spread sustainable growth across the regions. We want to reach the many SMEs across the North-East who are ready to sell offshore, but have yet to take the plunge.

"British products, services and expertise are in demand across the world yet less than a quarter of UK firms currently export. UKTI international trade advisors can help new exporters at every step of the way with practical advice and support to seek out new international customers."

Ross Smith, director of policy at the North East Chamber of Commerce, said: "It's good to see Vince Cable recognising the region's prowess at selling overseas as he kicks off his Exporting is Great campaign. Ahead of the Spending Review this visit will help reinforce how the North-East can play a major role in the UK's economic recovery with the appropriate investment."