The Housing Innovation & Construction Skills Academy (HICSA) is a pioneering training facility that will position Sunderland at the forefront of the North East's housing industry.
HICSA will focus on providing industry-standard training in construction techniques and low-carbon technologies. Our curriculum aligns with an ambitious strategy for a sustainable future, with progression paths from secondary to higher education through pivotal partnerships with Northumbria University and the Gentoo Skills Academy, ensuring our students are prepared for the challenges and opportunities ahead.
A range of our construction courses will move to HICSA starting in the 2025-2026 academic year, including:
We are dedicated to training the next generation of workers in the innovative techniques and technologies that will shape the homes of tomorrow. As the UK aims for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, green careers are becoming increasingly vital. In 2018, there were 185,000 full-time workers in England's low-carbon sectors with projections exceeding 1.18 million by 2050.
Our partnership with Northumbria University will strengthen links between our two organisations and will come to life at HICSA, through educating, training and upskilling local people in housebuilding, commercial construction, modern methods and green construction techniques, including home retrofit. This collaboration creates a progression path for students from the age of 14 into meaningful study and work opportunities, providing them with a route to higher-level qualifications at the University. Our students will graduate with the critical skills and expertise needed to drive positive change, contributing to both the local workforce and the wider community's transition to a greener future.
Join us at Sunderland College and start a career that is both rewarding and future-proof.
You can watch the development of HICSA from the ground up, from our first site visit to our exciting partnership with Northumbria University and the amazing opportunities it will give our students.
HICSA has been developed through a collaborative effort over the past four years, involving exceptional partners across the region.
Together, we aim to establish a beacon of opportunity in sustainable construction careers.
Launch of the Gentoo Skills Academy, an innovative programme for local pupils aged 14-16 to earn a specialised construction qualification alongside their GCSEs, supported by Sunderland College and Gentoo experts.
HICSA opens its doors!
Education Partnership North East (EPNE) and Northumbria University have unveiled a new partnership.
December 4, 2024
Work has started on a world-class training centre in Sheepfolds.
December 4, 2023
Detailed plans for a world-class training facility that will provide ‘next generation skills for next generation homes’ have been submitted this w...
January 26, 2022
