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The Suffolk Joint Construction Committee (SJCC) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Suffolk New College, marking the first partnership of its kind in the committee's history.
Why it matters: The industry partnership will create a direct pathway for young people from education into employment, with SJCC members offering work experience, site visits, industry talks, mentoring and apprenticeship opportunities.
The big picture: The SJCC, established in 1954, brings together volunteers from professional construction bodies across Suffolk including the National Federation of Builders, the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, the Institution of Structural Engineers, and the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers, along with representatives from law and quantity surveying.
What they're saying: "We are all about promoting the industry across a broad range of subjects with the aim of encouraging more people into the professions we represent," said Bryan Wybrow, current chair of SJCC and representative of KLH Architects in Ipswich.
"We are really proud to have joined as an industry partner with Suffolk New College so that we can support all learners within Ipswich and the surrounding areas."
By the numbers: Suffolk New College currently has around 1,200 young people enrolled in construction and engineering pathways, and is working with 136 companies through its industry partnership scheme.
What's next: During the signing ceremony, held in the college's Chefs' Whites restaurant, college officials announced plans to launch two new level four higher technical qualifications in quantity surveying and construction management in 2025/26, with a vision to offer a construction-related degree by 2028.
The bottom line: "We now have an industry partner programme that enables our learners to realise their potential and go on and have successful careers," said Alan Pease, principal and CEO of Suffolk New College. "Getting the likes of SJCC and others to commit to working with us helps showcase the impact of this scheme."
You can find out more about Suffolk New College's industry partnerships here: https://www.suffolk.ac.uk/employers/industry-partners/
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