In 2020, the North East LEP commissioned Ortus to explore the employment and skills needs within three key North East sectors: offshore wind, tourism and health and social care. For the latter, the focus was on digital skills.

This work will support the North East Skills Advisory Panel in its task of ensuring that skills provision in the region reflects and responds to employment needs. The work is part of a research programme to develop methodologies that identify future skills requirements in the North East.

The project included a range of complementary methodologies, including a literature review, secondary analysis of relevant datasets and an employer survey in each sector. There was also in-depth consultation with a small number of employers to explore key issues in more detail. It is important to note that the research was interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic, and the methodology was adapted in response.