Description

My Friends in the North

My Friends in the North is a podcast from entrepreneur Sarah Waddington in which she interviews some of the North’s most influential organisational and community leaders.

In a one-off series of five interviews, Sarah will be sticking to one theme and talking to members of the North East COVID-19 Economic Response Group about what support is available in the region to help businesses.

In this third episode she speaks to Michelle Rainbow, skills director at the North East LEP* and the Group’s people and employment lead, about:

1. What the North East COVID-19 Economic Response Group is doing to help keep people in employment.

2. Whether it’s possible to get a true handle on the level of unemployment in the North East at the moment.

3. The latest Government measures to support the business community and whether regional business owners are taking these up.

4. The Group’s plans to redeploy staff with transferable skills.

5. Where employers and employees in the region can go for help and advice right now.

6. What success looks like for the North East COVID-19 Economic Response Group and its partners.

7. The existing Skills programme of activity at the North East LEP.

8. What gives Michelle confidence that when the time comes, the North East will be ready to bounce back.

To stay up to date with Michelle, you can find her on LinkedIn or on Twitter @MichelleRainbo4. More information is available on the North East COVID-19 Economic Response Group page and via the North East Growth Hub website.

If you’d like to feature on future episodes, contact Sarah Waddington on 07702 162 704 or email sarah@astute.work.

Until next time, thank you, keep well and stay home.

*The North East LEP is an Astute.Work client