CAR workers at Nissan are among North-East employees to benefit from millions of pounds of Government funding given to universities to help businesses weather the economic downturn.

Seven of the region’s colleges and universities yesterday received grants, from the Economic Challenge Investment Fund, launched by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (Hefce) earlier this year.

The grants total nearly £3m, of the £27.5m awarded to more than 70 institutions nationally, and will be matchfunded by regional development agencies, universities or local businesses.

The project aims to provide support such as short targeted courses for people who have lost their jobs and courses for workers on reduced working hours. And one project run by Sunderland University, which received the region’s biggest grant for £1.4m worth of schemes, will see car workers from Nissan and its supply chain, among others, trained at Gateshead College in up-to-date thinking on manufacturing. In total 300 workers in the region’s automotive industry and supply chain are expected to benefit from the scheme between now and September next year, When it first became apparent there would be an economic downturn Nissan approached the university and asked for staff to go through this training.

Minister of State for Higher Education, David Lammy said: “Universities are clearly showing that they can provide a lifeline in these challenging times by offering targeted short courses to adults who have lost their jobs, by connecting small businesses to graduates and university expertise, and by offering graduates the skills and opportunities to set up their own business.”

As well as Sunderland’s grant of £707,243, match funded by regional development agency One North East, the institutions in this region receiving grants for various projects are: Durham University, £500,000; Teesside University, £418,831; York St John University, £300,000; Northumbria University, £398,393; Newcastle University, £488,428 and Newcastle College, £100,000.

Nationally, the funding will offer help to 50,000 people and 11,700 businesses in the form of more than 2,000 internships and work placements for new graduates, short targeted courses, vouchers for the unemployed for training and help with looking for work.