Boost for North East entrepreneurs as Newcastle College launches ‘Synergy Hub’

A new hub designed to encourage collaboration between education & industry was officially launched by Newcastle College last week.

Local businesses, entrepreneurs and students are now able to gain access to the Synergy Hub at Newcastle College’s Rye Hill campus on the edge of Newcastle city centre.

On Friday 5th November, leaders of industry from across the region were invited to be the first to see the newly completed hub and learn about how businesses can work with the college to support innovation and growth.

Andrew Esson (Director of Industrial Strategy, Newcastle College) at the Synergy Hub launch event

Repurposing space once used as the group’s headquarters, the hub provides businesses with a ‘front door’ to skills and productivity solutions, supporting them to work and operate in a flexible way and interact with other businesses in a co-working environment, whilst accessing and contributing to curriculum development for the College and its students.

Guests at the Synergy Hub launch event

From employers to entrepreneurs, micro-businesses and SMEs, to the region’s larger organisations, the new Synergy Hub will not only offer practical support, advice and workforce planning, but provide access to the technical skills training available from the further education sector and continued professional development for staff, networking and collaboration opportunities.

To mark the Hub’s launch, attendees were treated to a guided tour of the facilities at the Rye Hill campus, including the college’s Enterprise Hub and Digital Hub, all complete with state-of-the-art equipment, breakout rooms, meeting areas and co-working spaces.

The Digital Hub welcomes its’ first visitors

Grant Glendinning (Executive Principal of NCG North) said: “I am really excited about what these facilities can offer both young people and local businesses. The idea of the Synergy Hub essentially derives from the need to connect education and industry in order to develop the knowledge and skills which are needed in the region.”

“With the Synergy Hub, we hope to help nurture new talent as well as retain the talent within our region – Newcastle is a fantastic city with so much potential for growth, but in order to do so we need to provide an education to build the foundation for people to go out into their careers and thrive.”

Liz Bromley (Chief Executive Officer of NCG), said that the Hub provides “a community centred place of opportunity” for students and businesses alike, adding: “As a group, we want to have a positive impact in all the localities we serve. The Synergy Hub is our contribution to entrepreneurial Newcastle.”

Newcastle College’s first ever Entrepreneur in Residence was also revealed – Newcastle Startup Week founder, Plan Digital director and ‘SuperConnector’ Paul Lancaster.

Paul Lancaster speaking at the Synergy Hub launch event

Paul, who also launched his monthly Founders Friday events in 2018 to encourage networking & knowledge sharing between North East entrepreneurs said: “It’s a huge honour to be invited to be the first Entrepreneur in Resident at the college. I’ve personally benefited from co-working across the North East & beyond which has helped me grow my business & network over the years.”

“Co-working is a way for us to share ideas and energy, working together to grow and create. This hub provides an opportunity for us to come back from the pandemic and build a new entrepreneurial ecosystem in the region.”

Grow your business & work with students at the Synergy Hub

To find out more about becoming a Member of the Enterprise Hub co-working space at the Synergy Hub (from just £60 a month), visit www.ncl-coll.ac.uk/employers/the-enterprise-hub/ or email Andrew Esson (Director of Industrial Strategy, Newcastle College) at andrew.esson@ncl-coll.ac.uk


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