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North East

Local Skills Improvement Plan 2026-2029 · set by North East Automotive Alliance (NEAA)

8
Priority sectors
48
Occupations in demand
47
Skills named
12
Funding streams

The North East Local Skills Improvement Plan (NELSIP) 2026-2029 is the statutory, employer-led skills plan for the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority region, aligning technical education and training from entry level up to Level 8 with the UK Modern Industrial Strategy, the North East Local Growth Plan and the New Deal for North East Workers. It prioritises eight sectors split into Frontier Industries (Advanced Manufacturing including EV, Offshore Wind and Renewable Energy, Tech/Digital and AI, Defence Security and Space, Life sciences/pharmaceutical and process industries, and Creative industries and content) and Foundational Sectors (Construction and Adult Social Care).

National growth sectors

Designated by government, not chosen locally.

  • Advanced Manufacturing, including EV
  • Creative industries and content
  • Defence, Security and Space
  • Life sciences, pharmaceutical and process industries
  • Offshore Wind and Renewable Energy
  • Tech, Digital and AI
  • Adult Social Care
  • Construction

Occupations in demand

A sample: 16 of the 48 occupations the plan names.

  1. 01Programmers and software development professionals (SOC 2134)
  2. 02IT business analysts, architects and systems designers (SOC 2133)
  3. 03Mechanical engineers (SOC 2122)
  4. 04Production managers and directors in manufacturing (SOC 1121)
  5. 05Electronics engineers (SOC 2124)
  6. 06Welding trades (SOC 5213)
  7. 07Production operatives
  8. 08Entry-level maintenance technicians
  9. 09Marketing associate professionals (SOC 3554)
  10. 10Graphic and multimedia designers (SOC 2142)
  11. 11Financial managers and directors (SOC 1131)
  12. 12Sales accounts and business development managers (SOC 3556)
  13. 13Production accountants, floor runners and camera (trainee entry-level creative roles)
  14. 14IT business analysts (SOC 2133)
  15. 15Programmers and Software Developers (SOC 2134)
  16. 16Production engineers (SOC 2125)

Jobs advertised right now

Skills named in the plan

A sample: 12 of the 47 skills the plan names, grouped by kind.

Digital

  • Basic digital skills / digital literacy
  • AI skills / applied AI (moving to agentic AI)
  • Cyber security

Technical

  • Advanced and higher-level technical skills
  • Electro-mechanical technician skills
  • Higher-level qualifications to close the 'Level 4 gap'
  • Industry 4.0 & Mechatronics (robotics, PLCs, digital twin)
  • CAD/FEA, thermodynamics and material science
  • MIG/TIG welding and structural integrity
  • Virtual Production & Immersive Tech (Unreal Engine, virtual production volumes)
  • Camera, lighting, rigging, sound and VFX technical proficiency
  • Secure Systems Engineering / Secure by Design & security clearance readiness