Brims Construction has sealed a deal to build a £15m training facility in Sunderland.
The Housing Innovation and Construction Skills Academy (HICSA) will provide ‘next generation skills for next generation homes’ and support the city’s advanced manufacturing, carbon reduction and renewable energy ambitions. Plans for the world class facility were first unveiled more than two years ago, as part of plans to give North East people the skills to build and upgrade the city’s homes.
It was initially set to be delivered by Tolent Construction, but the pause button was hit when the contractor fell into administration earlier this year. A week later, Brims – which is run by the sons of Tolent founder John Wood - snapped up the Teesside operation of the group in a deal which saved more than 150 jobs.
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Brims has now been enlisted by the council to take on the training facility project, which will be based at the centre of Riverside Sunderland, the city’s ambitious regeneration scheme. HICSA will be managed by Sunderland College and will offer training to upskill local people to create innovative factory-built new homes, the first of which will be built at Riverside Sunderland.
The facility will be based at Sheepfolds and will include the existing goods shed on the corner of Hay Street.
Coun Kevin Johnston, portfolio holder for dynamic city, said: “HICSA will establish Sunderland as a regional and national hub for housing innovation, research and development. It will attract and retain local talent, providing greater education and career opportunities for young people from under privileged communities. The council is creating a city-wide housing ecosystem, providing more and better housing, increasing the city centre population, and driving regeneration that will have huge benefits for local people.
“HICSA is a fundamental part of this plan and will provide education, skills and training programmes for the housing and construction professionals of the future, creating employment opportunities for local people, and supporting supply chain growth. I’m delighted that the construction phase can now begin, and I look forward to seeing another piece of the Riverside Sunderland jigsaw fall into place.”
Construction on the site is expected to start in the next month, with work expected to complete in 2025.
Jason Wood, director at Brims, said: “Brims Construction are very proud to have won the contract to deliver the HICSA Project on behalf of Sunderland City Council. The scheme will educate, train, and upskill local people to create and build homes whilst learning a multitude of trades within our industry.
“Beyond bricks and mortar, we see this project as an opportunity to create a lasting legacy for the construction industry. By combining our construction expertise and the vision for the HICSA project, we aim to craft a space that will stand as a testament to innovation, quality, and purpose. Together, let’s build not just a structure, but a legacy that will inspire generations to come.”
Sunderland College will run the academy with support from education and industry partners including the Ministry of Building Innovation and Education (MOBIE), which is led by Washington-born TV architect, George Clark.
The new training facility is one of several projects that will form Riverside Sunderland, including City Hall and The Beam, a new footbridge across the River Wear, the Eye Hospital, Culture House cultural venue, Sheepfolds leisure destination and the National Esports Performance Campus.
