The New Labour mantra of 'education, education, education' could have been coined in Tees Valley well before Tony Blair became Prime Minister in 1997.
For decades the University of Teesside has been boosting skill levels across the region and helping local people fulfil their potential.
This good work has gathered pace in recent years, with the university expanding its provision of vocational and work-based learning and providing the niche skills required by businesses to compete on an international stage.
Local Talent
Overseeing the university's transformation into a recognised beacon of academic excellence is Professor Graham Henderson, who has more than 30 years' experience of the learning and skills sector.
After joining the university in 1999 as deputy vice-chancellor (academic & development), he was appointed vice chancellor and chief executive in 2003.
While Graham is satisfied with the University of Teesside's sterling work in driving forward the regional skills agenda, he believes much more needs to be done to retain local talent in the area.
He says: "The main challenge is undoubtedly that the overall level of skills within our region lags so far behind the rest of the UK.
This has such a damaging impact on the prospects of people here in the North-east and increasingly makes it difficult for businesses to compete, or for the region to attract new businesses to locate here.
"While it is vital to address the fairly widespread weaknesses in numeracy, literacy and communication, it's also important that we give high priority to increasing higher-level skills and qualifications that can enable businesses to succeed.
Boosting knowledge, skills and business 'know how' will help the region to grow major sectors including engineering, health, logistics and the burgeoning creative and digital industries."
The university is a major player in the regional DigitalCity initiative, which is developing a sustainable cluster of digital media and technology businesses in Tees Valley.
It is already worth £800m to the region's economy, comprises 2,200 businesses and employs 30,000 people.
More than 9,000 new jobs are expected to be created in the region's commercial creative industry in the next five years.
Graham says: "We are proud of our work in building up this sector, which is being driven by some of the UK's leading businesses.
In addition, under the university's Skillset Academy initiative we are working with employers in the media industry to create new programmes—for full-time students and those in employment — to ensure Tees Valley remains at the cutting edge of digital developments."
National Executive
Graham is involved in several high-profile groups to encourage further development of local skills.
The chairman of Universities for the North East and the North East Higher Skills Network, he is also a member of the national executive of university think tank Million+ and a founder member of the board of Tees Valley Unlimited (the Leadership Board of the Tees Valley City Region).
In addition, he has taken on non-executive roles at Learning and Skills Council Tees Valley and the North East Chamber of Commerce, and is a council member of the Confederation of British Industry North East.
With a finger in so many pies, Graham is well placed to comment on the region's future prospects.
"The need for entrepreneurial skills and relevant work experience is critical in schools, colleges and universities," he says.
"An important development in this respect is the establishment of the Tees Valley Skills Board, which is working to develop a skills strategy for the sub-region."