Education, employment and enterprise are at the heart of building a strong and successful Tees Valley economy.
From academic excellence in our schools, colleges and universities to training opportunities and up-skilling staff to meet the changing needs of business - all play a crucial role in upping our economic performance.
Process Sector
The Evening Gazette's ABC - A Brilliant Career in the Tees Valley initiative aims to nurture both the talent of tomorrow and encourage current workforces to maximise opportunities available.
Skills shortages is a very real issue for the Tees Valley.
But many key sectors - currently enjoying investment and growth - desperately need new recruits.
The process sector is one such area.
Bringing new talent into the industry is key to its future prosperity. NEPIC - the North East Process Industry Cluster - says the region faces a shortage of 20,000 workers in the process sector by 2014.
Breathed New Life
Stan Higgins, NEPIC chief executive, says: "More people must be encouraged to consider a career in industry if Tees Valley is to reach its true potential.
"We are focusing on the opportunities available for the new generation entering the profession."
The oil and gas industry is another area where the demand for skills is high.
Ten years ago the sector was on its knees with order books empty, yards closing and hundreds of workers joining the dole queue.
Today the picture could not be more different. Local successes include Hartlepool's Hereema which is working on a contract to build a 5,900 tonne deck and 500-tonne bridge for a platform working in the Nexen Buzzard oilfield off Scotland.
Tees Alliance Group has begun work on a £150m contract to build two state-of-the-art drilling rigs, commissioned by SeaDragon Offshore, at the Haverton Hill shipyard.
Wilton Engineering Services has breathed new life into the former Kvaerner offshore yard on the Tees.
And Sonhoe's £2bn crude oil refinery plans for Wilton is the biggest single industry investment on Teesside.
1,700 Jobs
NOF Energy, the organisation representing companies in the off-shore oil and gas industry says a shortage of skilled workers remains one of its biggest issues.
NOF Energy has calculated there are more than 1,700 jobs available in the North-east energy sector with some roles offering salaries of £30,000 plus a year.
The Tees Valley is now home to the £10m National Skills Academy for the Process Industries.
Professionals working from Teesside University are combining advice and feedback from employers on their skills needs, with existing training organisations, such as South Bank-based
TTE the Technical Training Group and colleges and universities, to deliver industry-led solutions to the skills problem.
Significantly Upgrading
The education system is also changing to meet the UK's skills agenda.
The new Diploma qualification for 14-19 year-olds has gone live in five subjects - construction and the built environment; creative and media; engineering; information technology, and society, health and development.
It is initially being piloted in a number of areas across the UK - including Middlesbrough.
Case Studies
While the Engineering Diploma is now available in the Tees Valley, the full range of 17 disciplines should be up and running by 2011.
The Diploma has been designed by employers so young people are better prepared for work.
It combines theoretical and practical learning enabling young people to go on to college, university or straight into the workplace.
Workforce Development
But employer-led training programmes are also key to achieving the government's aim of upskilling 40% of Britain's working population to Level 4 (first year undergraduate level) and beyond.
Teesside University has secured what is believed to be the second largest grant in the country for a workforce development initiative between academia and business.
It will receive up to £13m including a £5.2m injection from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE).
The Skills Pledge is also encouraging greater workplace training.
The national initiative aims to encourage businesses and organisations of all sizes and in all sectors to demonstrate a commitment to staff training and development.
It is being driven in the region by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) North East, supported by the North East Chamber of Commerce (NECC) and the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).