Staff from Newcastle College, Newcastle Sixth Form College and NCG’s Professional Services teams have been given the opportunity to help shape the future of Newcastle.
“Newcastle150” is a leadership programme for 18–25-year-olds living, working or studying in Newcastle, that focuses on addressing the challenge of “How do we ensure that by 2032, Newcastle is a city where all of its young people can thrive and be heard?”
A number of NCG colleagues based in Newcastle were nominated by their managers to join the three-day programme, where they worked alongside students, professionals and other young people to develop ideas for the future of the city.
Marketing Executive, Ethan Pratt said: “The fact my managers had enough belief in me and in my potential that they offered me this opportunity for professional development is very reassuring, and further demonstrates how well supported I’ve been during my time working at Newcastle College.”
Executive Projects Officer, Bethany Hogg agreed that it has given her a confidence boost. She added: “I was really excited to find out I had been nominated for the Common Purpose Newcastle150 event, as I always like to be faced with new challenges and work with new people. It was great to meet and work with other colleagues from NCG as well as network with a wider cohort of young people from Newcastle. By the end of the event, I felt more confident when presenting and discussing my ideas with new people.”
Assistant Principal of Newcastle College, Catherine Orridge, was a group advisor at the in-person event and was very impressed with the input from colleagues. She said: “The young people involved were brilliant, truly inspirational and are definitely lined up to be future leaders. It’s crucial that our younger employees get opportunities like this so they can see that we are keen to support them in their careers, and that we will do everything we can to help them progress.”