Investing in local talent to drive sustainability in the East
Paving the way to Net Zero emissions with Suffolk New College
With green skills becoming increasingly pivotal to construction and many other industries, it is essential that businesses look to invest in the development of local talent to help drive sustainable solutions as we move towards a ‘net zero’ future.
Morgan Sindall Construction have joined several other companies in partnering with Suffolk New College to create a sustainable construction area at the Centre. This will include examples of construction materials, to educate learners about methods of improving building sustainability.
Suffolk New College in Ipswich opened a new Net Zero Skills Centre in 2022 - a facility that benefitted from £940,000 worth of funding from the Ipswich Town Deal, funded by HM Government.
The facility will play a big role in generating awareness of the many job opportunities available in the green skills sector. It will offer upcoming generations the chance to gain key skills in both current and emerging technologies, providing a strong foundation for students to go on and develop sustainable careers.
Some of the new facilities at the Net Zero Skills Centre include air and ground source heat pumps, solar panel maintenance and installation equipment, a water harvesting area, a hybrid and electric vehicle studio, and an electric boiler room.
Sustainable construction training is crucial to creating a green future we can be proud of, where we can meet the challenging but necessary targets we have set as a society. The amazing facilities will benefit Ipswich greatly for generations to come.”
The opening of the new centre builds on a collaborative project that has seen colleges in Norfolk and Suffolk join forces to embed sustainability across their curriculums, culminating in a New Anglia Green Skills summit held in Ipswich earlier in the year.
In addition, part of the Green Skills project funded a two-day sustainability festival for students. Both these events were supported by the New Anglia Green Skills project, which was funded by the Strategic Development Fund from the Department for Education.
The Green Skills project also funded key equipment in the Net Zero Skills Centre, including hybrid and electric vehicles.
We’re excited to be working with Suffolk New College on their Net Zero Skills Centre, as its comprehensive sustainable construction training will help embed advanced environmental awareness, knowledge and capabilities into tomorrow’s built environment workforce. Being an industry partner of Suffolk New College is a great way to provide students with an insight into the industry and how the skills they are learning align with Morgan Sindall’s Intelligent Solutions approach and commitment to net zero carbon.
