A SKILLS drive to fill thousands of North-East IT vacancies has been backed by a local authority.

The IT Apprentice Hub has received support from Newcastle City Council, which is providing training facilities for the scheme.

The hub, which also has a base in Sunderland, has been developed by regional employer network Dynamo North East, alongside training company Baltic Training Services, based in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham.

Putting students through 15-week rising star courses, it gives them the chance move on to paid full-time 12-month apprenticeships with IT companies.

Bosses say if the project is successful it could be rolled out nationally.

Louise Ball, Baltic’s operations director, said: “The North-East has a vibrant growing IT sector and what employers need are appropriately qualified young people able to hit the ground running.

“The idea of the hub is to fill this requirement providing a pool of talent that can be drawn on right here in the North-East.

“We are delighted Newcastle City Council has collaborated on this project to provide some wonderful facilities the young people will really benefit from.”

Trainer Michael Carrick is delivering the first course in Newcastle’s Computer Learning Centre, and said the hub will be vital in strengthening the IT sector.

He added: “A real disconnect exists across the UK between young people, who present the raw talent for the industry, and the desire of those people to access the industry.

"Common misconceptions that IT is boring, only for those strong at maths, or not really for women, are all inhibitors preventing people from applying in the first place.

"But the hub addresses these issues.”

The Northern Echo reported the hub's official launch earlier this year.

At the time, Bob Paton, vice-chairman of Dynamo, which aims to expand the North-East’s IT economy while improving skills, said it was important to give companies help to attract more talented people.

Mr Paton, who is also managing director of Accenture, in Newcastle, added: “We have an ever growing and successful IT sector in the North-East.

“However, to grow it further we need to increase the pool of young people who have the skills necessary to join the industry.

“Setting up this hub is unique in IT and will significantly help more young people into our industry.”