VELUX and Sunderland College launch sector-leading skills academy

Global roof window manufacturer VELUX has announced a pioneering partnership with Sunderland College to launch the VELUX Skills Academy, a sector-leading initiative aimed at addressing the UK's critical shortage of skilled window installers and tradespeople.

The new academy will be co-located within the Housing Innovation and Construction Skills Academy (HICSA) at Riverside Sunderland - a purpose-built, state-of-the-art training facility managed by Sunderland College.

Delivering hands-on, industry-led training in roofing, window installation, and smart home technologies, the VELUX Skills Academy will support both new entrants and those already working in the construction sector.

Driven by a mission to create healthier, more sustainable living environments, VELUX designs and manufactures roof windows, accessories, and smart home solutions that enhance daylight and ventilation in buildings.

Through this partnership, VELUX will integrate its expertise and technologies into HICSA's curriculum, ensuring students and apprentices gain real-world experience with cutting-edge products and practices.

Richard Williams, Senior Architectural Development Manager at VELUX UK & Ireland, said: ""We're proud to be launching the VELUX Skills Academy in partnership with Sunderland College, supporting the development of future talent through practical, hands-on training with our latest technologies.

This initiative reflects our ongoing commitment to addressing the UK's construction skills gap and preparing the next generation of tradespeople to deliver energy-efficient, high-quality homes that promote healthier, more sustainable living environments. It also aligns with our #livingplaces vision — creating homes and communities that prioritise wellbeing and sustainability for future generations."

The VELUX Skills Academy will feature significant investment in training rigs and digital technologies, enabling learners to develop specialist skills that are often difficult to teach in traditional college settings. It will complement Sunderland College's existing construction programmes and support the UK's Industrial Strategy by preparing learners for the demands of modern construction.

Ellen Thinnesen, Chief Executive of Education Partnership North East, which includes Sunderland College, said: "Our Housing Innovation and Construction Skills Academy is trailblazing a new and innovative approach to skills training in the UK.

"The VELUX Skills Academy will join a dynamic ecosystem of on-site education and industry partners, including the Gentoo Trades Academy and Northumbria University's Construction Clinic, with more to be announced soon."

VELUX is also working with developer igloo Regeneration to deliver homes in Sunderland inspired by the Living Places Copenhagen model - a prototype for healthy, low-carbon neighbourhoods. These homes will form part of Sunderland City Council's ambitious urban regeneration plans for Riverside Sunderland.

Cllr Kevin Johnston, Portfolio Holder for Housing, Regeneration and Business at Sunderland City Council, said: "HICSA is the product of partnership, shaped by a vision shared by EPNE and the council to ensure that the next generation in Sunderland can play a part in its future.

"We want to build exemplary homes in the city that make use of modern methods of construction and cutting-edge technology, and to do that, we must engage world-class partners to ensure our young people gain the skills they need to play a part in that ecosystem.  VELUX are one such partner, and it is brilliant to see them coming on board."

HICSA is a nationally leading gateway for construction and housing skills, specialising in modern methods of construction, low-carbon technologies, and addressing national shortages in key trades. Students and apprentices will play a direct role in building the 1,000 new homes planned for Riverside Sunderland, including those developed by VELUX and igloo.

For more information about HICSA or to explore partnership opportunities, please visit: www.sunderlandcollege.ac.uk