Meet the team

North East expertise. Industry-proven training.

T8 is a family-run business built on decades of real industry experience and a genuine passion for helping people and organisations grow.

Highfield Approved Centre Association of Healthcare Trainers — Recognised Member
Darren Tate, Managing Director and Lead Trainer
Darren Tate
Managing Director & Lead Trainer

"T8 stands for Tate — and for the belief that training should be personal. I bring 30 years of real industry experience into every session. Not slides and theory, but the kind of knowledge that comes from actually doing the job."

Qualifications & Experience
  • Level 3 Award in Direct Training & Support
  • A1 Full Assessors Award
  • Level 4 Award in Internal Quality Assurance
  • ISO 14001:2026 Environmental Management Systems
  • Lead Auditor
  • ISO 9000 / 9001 | BSI Standards | Factory Production Control
  • IOSH Managing Safely
  • Licensed Fire Door Inspector
  • SEND Diploma
  • Level 3 Food Safety
  • Functional Skills
  • Level 2 Mental Health First Aid Advocacy
  • AI Mastery
  • 30+ years manufacturing & management experience
Tracey Tate, Operations Director
Tracey Tate
Operations Director

"I make sure everything behind the scenes runs smoothly — from your first enquiry through to your certificates being issued. You'll always get a prompt, professional response when you contact T8."

Background & Experience
  • BA (Hons) Business Administration
  • HND Business, Travel & Tourism Management
  • Advanced GNVQ Business & Finance
  • NEBS Management Certificate
  • RSA CLAIT
  • 20 years' customer service, administration & workforce planning experience
  • Real-time resource planning & workforce management
  • Client liaison & bookings management
  • GDPR & data protection in practice
  • Business operations & administration
  • Level 2 Mental Health First Aid Advocacy
  • Level 2 Core Counselling Skills
30+Yrs Manufacturing
27+Yrs H&S & Quality
17+Yrs Adult Learning
27+Yrs Management

T8 Learning and Development is a family business founded and run by Darren and Tracey Tate in Redcar. Between them they bring together decades of industry expertise, professional qualifications, and business acumen — covering everything from the training room to the back office.

Darren leads all training delivery across Great Britain, drawing on 30 years of cross-sector manufacturing and management experience. He has delivered everything from apprenticeships and technical training to commercial and vocational qualifications — across glass, automotive, chemical, oil and gas, care, education, and engineering.

Tracey brings over 20 years of experience in customer service, business administration, workforce planning and operational support. With a strong background in the financial services sector, including roles with RBS and Direct Line Group, she has built a reputation for delivering excellent customer service, supporting high-performing teams, and ensuring smooth day-to-day operations. Throughout her career, Tracey has worked across customer service, real-time resource planning, administration and team support — including workforce management, performance reporting, recruitment administration, scheduling, service delivery, and analysing operational performance to help organisations meet demanding service levels.

Sectors we have worked in
Glass Manufacturing Automotive Chemical Oil & Gas Care Education Engineering Food Manufacturing Facilities Management Insurance Manufacturing Management Operations Management Senior Leadership
Why choose us

What makes T8 different

We're not a faceless training portal. You deal with the same experienced professionals from first enquiry to certificate — someone who has actually worked in the sectors they train. T8 exists because Darren and Tracey have a genuine passion for learning and development — for watching people grow in confidence and capability, not just ticking a compliance box.

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Industry-proven expertise

Darren has held roles in production, operations, H&S, QSHEF, and facilities management. Real experience, not just qualifications.

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Two direct points of contact

No call centres, no hand-offs. Darren for delivery and training queries, Tracey for bookings and administration, from initial enquiry through to certificates being issued.

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We come to you

Workplace delivery across the Tees Valley and North East. We fit around your team and your schedule.

Inclusive by design

SEND-qualified and experienced in supporting learners with additional needs. Reasonable adjustments made as standard.

❤️

A genuine passion for people

This business exists because we love seeing people learn. Every session is delivered with real care for the person in front of us, not just the certificate at the end.

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Bespoke content, every time

Every course we deliver includes the full qualification standard in full — plus the option to tailor content, examples and case studies to your business, agreed with you before delivery.

Registered training provider

UK Register of Learning Providers

T8 Learning and Development Ltd is registered on the UK Register of Learning Providers (UKRLP), with UK Provider Reference Number (UKPRN) 10101764. This registration is one of the standard requirements for training providers looking to deliver or subcontract on publicly funded training programmes. Get in touch if you are a funding body or prime provider looking to work with us.

Want to work with us?

Get in touch and we'll get back to you within 3 working days.

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