Pictured at the opening of the Enterprise Centre, (left to right) Pam Lockey, Paul Robertson, Phil Thornton and Clare Thompson, Enterprise Champion.

In June 2008, the Ashington Learning Partnership Enterprise Centre (ALPEC) opened.

Costing almost a third of a million pounds, it provides a base for Enterprise activities for learners of all ages from nursery to adult.

'Enterprise' means more than developing skills in business and finance. Activities in the centre help learners adapt to unfamiliar situations, use initiative, be innovative and take calculated risks. It develops their skills in forming action plans, setting targets and taking responsibility for decisions.

The Centre is managed by Phil Thornton, who also spends time developing Enterprise in schools. Phil said, “I enjoy working with pupils of all ages and adult learners to develop Enterprise in its widest sense. This is a wonderful project to develop skills and raise aspirations.”

The Centre was opened by former High School student Paul Robertson, who is now the editor of the Evening Chronicle. He said, “I’m proud to be opening the Enterprise Centre. When I was at school we were expected to follow traditional academic routes and were not encouraged to be entrepreneurial. This project creates wonderful opportunities for the leaders of the future to develop their skills.”