Ibstock has officially launched its pilot Ibstock Academy at Walsall College, which it sees as a key milestone in its commitment to supporting construction skills across the sector.
The Academy was unveiled at a ribbon-cutting ceremony held at Walsall College’s Green Lane Campus, attended by students, educators, and representatives from across the industry - including Keon Homes, WMCA, CITB and the Home Builders Federation (HBF).
The ceremony was led by James Norris, Assistant Principal – Commercial Development, and Jo Hodge, Ibstock’s HR, Sustainability and Social Impact Director, who formally opened the Academy.
As the first building materials manufacturer to have joined the HBF’s Partner a College programme, Ibstock is hoping to take a leading role in bridging the gap between education and employment. The Academy will initially support brick laying students with practical, job-ready training that reflects the pace, high quality standards, and safety expectations of construction.
Jo Hodge, HR, Sustainability and Social Impact Director at Ibstock Plc, said: “For over two hundred years, Ibstock has served its customers and the wider construction industry. We recognise that skills are one of the biggest challenges facing the sector, and we are committed to playing our part.
"The Ibstock Academy will bring business and education together to support students in their development. We are committed to bring industry insights and reinforce on-site safety and quality in their full-time training to help students build meaningful careers in construction. Walsall is a strategically important location for us, and we’re proud to invest in its future.”
The launch of the Ibstock Academy comes on the heels of Ibstock’s £64 million investment in its Atlas brick factory in the Walsall area, which now produces the Group’s lowest carbon bricks. The rebuild created around 50 new jobs and three apprenticeships.
As part of its broader social impact strategy, Ibstock has also piloted a Work 4 Homes programme in Walsall to inspire and support local social housing residents into employment, alongside other community initiatives aimed at building inclusive pathways into the built environment.
Cheryl Brown, Head of Corporate Affairs & Social Impact at Ibstock Plc, added: “We’re proud to have been the first UK building materials manufacturer to launch an Academy under the HBF’s Partner a College programme. This initiative allows us to go beyond manufacturing and actively support the development of practical, job-ready skills in our sector. By working directly with educators and local communities, we’re helping to build a more inclusive and resilient workforce.”
The Ibstock Academy at Walsall College is the first pilot of its kind for the Ibstock Group and will serve as a blueprint for future partnerships between manufacturers and colleges across the UK.
James Norris, Assistant Principal – Commercial Development, commented: “Walsall College has actively invested in its construction facilities in recent years to better meet the needs of local employers and the construction sector. The Ibstock Academy exemplifies how partnerships forged between further education colleges and industry enhance our contribution to skills development.
“This new learning environment inspires students and apprentices to deepen their knowledge of the sector while preparing them effectively for the world of work. It reinforces vital values such as site safety, sustainability, and quality, creating a solid foundation for success in their careers.
“By nurturing a diverse pipeline of talent, we are enabling future workforces to support new homebuilding schemes as well as wider regeneration and infrastructure projects currently underway and planned throughout the West Midlands.”
Steve Turner, Executive Director at the Home Builders Federation (HBF), added: “The Ibstock Academy at Walsall College is a strong example of how the Partner a College programme is driving meaningful industry investment into further education and construction training.
"The academy will offer valuable insights that can shape a best practice model for collaboration between industry and education providers for all the partners on the Partner a College programme.
"Initiatives like this are essential, not only to equip students with real-world skills and support them into construction careers, but also to build a workforce capable of meeting the Government’s housing targets.”
Jo Mann, People, Engagement & Social Impact Partner at Keon Homes, said ‘‘As a housebuilder, particularly here at Keon Homes with our focus on delivering affordable housing for the local community, the skills gap in construction has never been more urgent. We are proud to be supporting the construction workers of the future through this partnership, equipping students with the industry insight they need to succeed. We don’t just build homes, we build futures.’’
Photo (left to right): Mark Pemberton, Director of Curriculum, Technical at Walsall College, James Norris, Assistant Principal, Commercial Development at Walsall College, Jo Mann, People, Engagement & Social Impact Partner at Keon Homes, Jo Hodge, HR, Sustainability & Social Impact Director at Ibstock, Cheryl Brown, Head of Corporate Affairs & Social Impact at Ibstock, and Cath Bullough, Partner a College Programme Manager at HBF.
