City of Newcastle City of Newcastle is helping local businesses gain the skills to make the most of Newcastle’s emerging new economic opportunities with a $385,000 investment in its New Skills Program. From helping local businesses to embrace the digital age, developing ways to be more accessible or improve energy efficiency, the program aims to address a wide range of industry specific skills gaps over the next two years. Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the New Skills Program will provide opportunities for people to learn new skills and innovation which is how we make businesses more competitive and encourage emerging industries which will create more local jobs.