First North East CTEC Regional Construction Skills Director Appointed

Sunderland College has appointed Rebecca Storey as the first Regional Construction Skills Director for the new North East Construction Technical Excellence College (CTEC), a key strategic role that will shape the region’s construction skills pipeline.

A well‑known and respected figure in the North East’s construction and skills landscape, Rebecca will lead the strategic development and implementation of the North East CTEC’s construction skills mission. Working closely with employers and industry bodies, training providers, and local and combined authorities, she will strengthen employer engagement and champion inclusion to ensure people from all backgrounds can access clear, visible pathways into construction careers.

Rebecca brings over a decade of high‑impact experience working across the construction sector, education, local government and industry partnerships. Her previous roles include supporting the North East Combined Authority as Sector Skills Facilitator, where she identified emerging skills needs across key sectors and strengthened employer engagement with training provision.

She has also held senior business engagement roles at Education Partnership North East, driving apprenticeship recruitment, SME support and talent development across the region.

Alongside her new role, Rebecca remains deeply involved in regional industry networks. She is a board member of Constructing Excellence North East and Chair of its People Group, which focuses on workforce development, diversity, skills challenges and educational engagement across the sector.

On her appointment, Rebecca Storey said: “I am thrilled to have been appointed Regional Construction Skills Director at the North East CTEC and bring with me over 10 years’ experience of working in partnership with the construction sector and extensive experience of collaborating with training providers across the North East Combined Authority area.

“The North East Construction Technical Excellence College offers a huge opportunity to raise the standards and expand upon the already brilliant construction provision in our region, ensuring training aligns with the demands of the sector, enabling more residents to gain meaningful employment in this fantastic industry.”

In 2025, Sunderland College’s HICSA was formally recognised by the Department for Education as one of only ten Construction Technical Excellence Colleges (CTECs) in England.

Acting as a regional hub, the North East CTEC brings together further education colleges, universities, independent training organisations, schools, employers and key stakeholders to boost training, raise industry standards, address skills shortages, and drive economic growth.

Iain Nixon, Vice Principal Partnerships and Business Solutions at Sunderland College, said: “We are delighted to welcome Rebecca to this pivotal new role. Her appointment as Regional Construction Skills Director marks a significant milestone for the North East CTEC and reflects its ambition to place employer-led, high-quality skills development at the heart of the region’s growth. Rebecca brings an exceptional depth of experience, and her leadership will be instrumental in strengthening collaboration across North East CTEC, HICSA and industry partners.”