Get ready for the opening of our world class construction academy!
Work is nearing completion on the new Housing Innovation and Construction Skills Academy (HICSA) at Sunderland’s Riverside, near the Stadium of Light. Led by Education Partnership North East (EPNE), managed by Sunderland College and built by Sunderland City Council, HISCA is a state of the art education hub designed to train local people in building and upgrading homes using modern methods of construction, low carbon materials and smart and renewable energy technology.
HICSA will open its doors to students from September 2025, To find out more about HICSA click here.
Changes to Maths and English for Adult Apprentices
Government used February’s National Apprenticeship Week to announce a major change to apprenticeship policy which has subsequently came into immediate effect. Apprentices over the age of 19 are no longer be required by Government to undertake Maths and English functional skills qualifications in order to complete their course.
Businesses employing adult apprentices will now have the power to decide whether a Maths and English qualification should be part of the prescribed course, following a rule change by the government. The Department for Education (DfE) says this could mean 10,000 more apprentices are able to complete courses every year.
Apprentices aged 16-18 will still have to complete an English and Maths functional skills qualification - equivalent to a GCSE - as a course requirement. Find out more about apprecticeships here!
Sunderland College Business and Apprenticeship Awards 2025
A great evening was had by all at Sunderland College’s recent Business and Apprenticeship Awards. This annual Award event specifically celebrates the College’s apprentices and their employers. The Event was held during National Apprenticeship Week at the College’s City Bistro Restaurant, where the evening’s beautiful food was made and served by the College’s students.
The evening was a resounding success with guests hearing all about the success of the College’s Apprentice Award winners, many of whom had overcome setback and hardships whilst embarking on their apprenticeships. The apprentices receive Apprentice of the Year awards across different sectors including Engineering, Health and Social Care, and Land Based industries and guests enjoyed a three-course meal in the critically acclaimed City Bistro restaurant, prepared and served by the college’s professional cookery and hospitality students
The evening also allowed the College to thank some of the many businesses and organisations it works with each year. Sunderland Care and Support were awarded the Large Employer of the Year Award, Canford Audio received the SME Employer of the Year Award. South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Trust were given an award in appreciation of their support of the College’s Work Placement Programmes and Gentoo received a Special Recognition Award to show the College’s thanks for their long standing support to the College over many years.
We are looking forward to Northumberland College’s Business and Apprenticeship Awards which will take place at Kirkley Hall in June.
Upskill your Existing Staff through our Virtual Learning Programme
Over the course of the next few months we are hosting a number of fully funded virtual learning programmes designed specifically for staff training which are listed below:
These programmes offer the opportunity for employers to train staff with the minimum
To find out more about how we can support your workforce development email us here or call us on 03007708000
We hope to hear from you soon!
Warm wishes,
EPNE Training
