A South Tyneside training provider is expanding internationally to support workforce development in the care sector.
Training in Care, based in South Shields, has launched its first overseas training centre in Kerala, India, after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Guardian Angel Institute of Caregiving.
The move will see the business deliver training to care workers across the region, building on its track record of helping more than 3000 people secure roles in the sector.
Dr Angela Brown, founder and chief executive of Training in Care, said: “Opening our first training centre outside of the UK is an incredibly proud moment for everyone associated with the business.
“Over the past 27 years, we’ve helped thousands of people gain the skills required to enter or progress their career in the care sector, so we’ve seen first-hand the challenges and opportunities facing the industry.
“For example, while we have made real in-roads in the UK to ensure our carers have the required social care skills to enter the industry, for too long we have overlooked the need for basic healthcare skills, which is something that is seen as essential for anyone working in the industry in India.
“At the same time, their care sector hasn’t adopted the same quality of care standards which we have.
“This is why initiatives like this are so important, as it will allow peers in both countries to share best practice and knowledge and ensure that the tens of millions of people receiving care in both countries receive the best possible care and support.
“It fills us with immense pride to be expanding internationally and to be working alongside the fantastic teams at Guardian Angels and University of Sunderland.
“We can’t wait to get started.”
The partnership was officially unveiled on by Dr Usher Titus, chair of Kerala’s Additional Skill Acquisition Programme, an initiative led by the Higher Education Department.
She said: “On one side, we have an institution rooted deeply in care and clinical excellence – Guardian Angel Institute of Caregiving – shaping compassionate, skilled professionals here in India.
“And on the other hand, we have a globally respected name – Training in Care – with decades of expertise and internationally recognised standards.
“They bring a system that ensures that caregiving is not just practiced, but it is perfected.
“And I can undoubtedly say that individually, they represent excellence.
“And together, they are going to represent something far greater – a bridge, a pathway, an opportunity for the aspiring caregivers to step beyond borders, to learn, to grow.
“It’s not just a collaboration; it’s the beginning of a global pathway for a career in caregiving.”
The expansion is supported by a knowledge transfer partnership (KTP) with the University of Sunderland, aimed at sharing best practice between the UK and India.
Officials say the collaboration will explore approaches to integrating healthcare within social care and improving standards across both markets.
Dr Derek Watson, associate professor in cultural management at University of Sunderland, said: “Securing a KTP with Training in Care, worth £200,000, is predicated around the University of Sunderland actively supporting UK organisations and clearly demonstrating that the University has the commercial expertise to tangibly grow businesses.
“Our relationship with Training in Care has been actively nurtured over several years and we are delighted in that this is Training in Care’s first KTP.
“The two-year project will focus on strategic growth in terms of profit, innovation, and global market expansion.
“It will also continue to provide a reciprocal gateway to enrich our student commercial insights as they observe Training Cares growth.”
Approval has been granted by awarding body NCFE, with the centre officially unveiled in April.
Matthew Potts, senior international and devolved nations manager at NCFE, added: “We are delighted to continue our partnership with Training in Care, an organisation that shares our commitment to high-quality learning and workforce development.
“NCFE International’s mission is to support partners who are driving positive change in their sectors, and it’s exciting to see this work expanding further in India.
“By combining local insight with our expertise in vocational standards, we can help upskill care workers and strengthen the quality of care, making a real difference for learners and those they support.”
Guardian Angel Homecare, which supports more than 300 carers in the Kerala region and has delivered care to over 5000 people since its launch in 2012, will work alongside Training in Care to strengthen skills development and enhance outcomes for care users.
Tom George, founder and managing director of Guardian Angel, added: “The collaboration between Training in Care and the Guardian Angel Institute of Caregiving reflects a shared vision to professionalise caregiving through globally benchmarked training and real-world application.
“Our experience in delivering quality home healthcare, through Guardian Angel Homecare, has reinforced a simple truth: the future of care depends on the quality of caregivers.
“This initiative creates a pathway that connects training, practice, and global opportunities, while enabling mutual learning and exchange between India and the UK.”
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