Construction college helps build the tradesmen and women of the future

Sunderland's new construction college has officially opened as it looks to help disadvantaged youngsters train for a trade and help get the nation building again.

- by Neil Fatkin

The new £500k Learning Curve Sunderland Construction Academy on Pallion Industrial Estate offers a range of vocational courses for teenagers and adults, enabling students to gain qualifications to become joiners, bricklayers, electricians, painter and decorators, and plumbers.

New courses are also being introduced to train youngsters in green energy and how to fit solar panels and electric vehicle charging points as well as the opportunity to study the core academic subjects of GCSE English and maths.

The Level 2 vocational qualifications equip youngsters with the knowledge and entry requirements to gain employment and work on construction sites.

The state-of-the-art facility was officially opened by Learning Curve CEO Brenda Mcleish OBE.