Partnering with the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority,New College Durham (NCD)was a proud sponsor of the One Assessment, Many Doors Sprint, which took place at Newcastle Racecourse from 7–9 July as part of the tenth annual Innovation Festival.
The college joined employers, educators and regional partners at Northumbrian Water's Innovation Festival 2026 to help develop innovative solutions that could transform how people access careers within the water and utilities sector.
Facilitated by Northumbrian Water Group's People Team, the inspiration behind the sprint was introduced by Dr Elouise Leonard-Cross, Group People Director at Northumbrian Water Group, who challenged participants to rethink recruitment around a simple principle: "There are plenty of opportunities available, but people often struggle to find the right doors."
The event brought together employers, education providers and regional organisations to tackle one important challenge, how might employers and partners collaborate to create a shared, candidate-friendly entry assessment that improves access and mobility for early talent?
The ambition is to create a model where candidates complete a single assessment yet gain access to multiple employment opportunities through a shared talent pool.
Representing New College Durham was Deputy Principal, Alison Maynard, who joined partners in a series of collaborative workshops designed to rethink how organisations identify, assess and recruit future talent.
Opening the first day alongside Sharon Campbell-Lawton from the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority, Alison highlighted the importance of partnership working in improving employment opportunities, supporting social mobility and developing a more inclusive workforce across the North East.
Alison said: "At New College Durham we are passionate about creating opportunities for everyone to develop the skills, confidence and experience needed to succeed in employment. The One Assessment, Many Doors sprint is an excellent example of organisations coming together to challenge traditional recruitment practices and design more inclusive pathways into work.
"Many employers are looking for exactly the same skills and behaviours but assess them in different ways. By working collaboratively, we have an opportunity to simplify recruitment, reduce barriers for applicants and help more talented people access rewarding careers across the region."
Delegates learnt that while many young people are interested in apprenticeships and skilled careers, recruitment processes can often feel confusing, complex and difficult to navigate and also discovered a proposed Inclusive Recruitment Toolkit, developed with young people, employers, the North East Chamber of Commerce and the Department for Education.
Participants worked through a series of practical activities to better understand the challenges faced by different groups of young people and job seekers and learnt more about how personal circumstances, confidence, previous experience and accessibility can all influence an individual's journey into employment.
As one of the North East's leading further and higher education colleges, NCD works with hundreds of employers across multiple sectors to develop innovative approaches to technical education, apprenticeships and workforce development.
The sprint aligns closely with NCD's commitment to widening participation, supporting social mobility and equipping learners with the higher-level technical and professional skills needed by regional employers.
By sponsoring the One Assessment, Many Doors sprint, the college is helping to shape practical solutions that place collaboration, inclusion and opportunity at the heart of future recruitment while continuing to support both employers and the people who will drive the region's economy for years to come.