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National training provider, Learning Curve Group (LCG), are set to open the doors to their brand new Business Academy in Darlington. The academy will focus on giving learners the knowledge, skills, qualifications and digital awareness to succeed in the modern-day workplace. The new academy will aim to close the business and digital skills gaps that many employers across the region have experienced.

LCG’s Business Academy, which opens to learners in September, will deliver a range of courses across the digital and technical sector including Digital Marketing, Accounting, Business Administration, Software Development and more. The programmes at the Business Academy will run for 24-25 months and will be delivered in a classroom environment at The Old Exchange, Barnard Street, Darlington. The new academy is set to welcome in over 100 learners in the first month and will create eight new jobs for local people.

This new academy will give school and college leavers the opportunity to specialise in a sector specific subject and work their way up to a career, whilst giving them the experience working in an inspiring real life work environment. The academy will work with businesses across the region to place graduates into employment when they leave the academy. This progression and support is something that colleges and universities lack. As Darlington is now the home of the HM Treasury, which is creating many jobs for the area, it is a great opportunity for people of all ages in the region to gain digital skills which could open up endless opportunities at places such as the HM Treasury.

Brenda McLeish, CEO of LCG, said: “I am so excited to be opening our brand new business academy in Darlington. The academy will create highly skilled recruits for businesses of the North East, whilst also supporting learners with our high-quality accredited training programmes and apprenticeships. As part of keeping learners at the centre of everything we do, we are dedicated to supporting our learners beyond their journey with us at our academy and into employment. Our open day in August will allow local employers to see our fantastic facility for themselves and discover how LCG can train their workforce of the future.”

LCG is hosting a free breakfast opening event for employers to visit the state-of-the-art academy on the 25th of August starting at 8:00am. Tees Valley Mayor, Ben Houchen, will be there to cut the ribbon and officially open the academy. CEO of LCG, Brenda McLeish will also be at the event to present how LCG can support businesses by building a future workforce of skilled individuals. The event will give local employers the opportunity to have a look around the collaborative, learner friendly space whilst learning about how LCG can offer their support.

At 1:00pm on 25th of August, LCG will welcome prospective learners and parents/carers into the academy to talk to staff, take a tour and enrol onto one of their innovative, accredited programmes. Guests will have the chance to discover the vast opportunities on offer and the career opportunities which the programmes can open up. The event is free of charge and open to learners of all ages.

Judith Allen, Director of Academies at LCG, said: “The opening of our Business Academy will give learners in the Tees Valley area an opportunity to enhance their digital skills to be able to gain knowledge and real work experience which employers desire. It is important that we train learners with the skills they need to be able to succeed in the workplace, and there is a current digital skills shortage which we need to tackle. We encourage both learners and employers to come visit us at the Business Academy on our open day to see the endless possibilities of learning that LCG can offer.”

LCG currently has 16 skills-based academies across England which specialise in Hair and Beauty, Construction, Uniformed Services and Health and Social Care. They have proven to be one of the most successful training and education providers in the country by working with over 4,500 employers to deliver successful training programmes to over 200,000 learners a year.

If you are interested in finding out more about how LCG’s Business Academy can support your organisation to build a highly skilled workforce, come along to our open day!

Sign up to our FREE employer breakfast event here: lcgonline.co.uk/opendayemployer

Sign up to our FREE learner open event here: lcgonline.co.uk/opendaylearner

To find out more information about Learning Curve Group’s Business Academy please email BusinessAcademy@LearningCurveGroup.co.uk. lcgonline.co.uk/BusinessAcademy

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