VELUX and Sunderland College launch sector-leading skills academy
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.
"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."
"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."
"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
About the VELUX Group
VELUX roof windows have been bringing daylight and fresh air into peoples’ homes around the world for more than 80 years, creating better living environments. We offer a range of products including roof windows and modular skylights, decorative blinds, sun screening products, and roller shutters, as well as installation and smart home solutions. They help create bright, healthy, and energy-efficient places for people who live, work, learn, and play under the roof. We work globally – with sales and manufacturing operations in 37 countries and around 11,900 employees worldwide. The VELUX Group is owned by VKR Holding A/S, a limited company owned by the Villum Foundation and members of the Kann Rasmussen family. In 2023, the VELUX Group had a total revenue of EUR 2.91 billion while VKR Holding had a total revenue of EUR 3.97 billion. The same year, the Villum Foundation and the VELUX FOUNDATION donated a total of EUR 184.6 million in charitable grants.
For more information about the VELUX Group, visit velux.com
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