SussEd - "Sustainable Skills in Education" an AECB Initiative

In response to demand from the AECB Committee and membership we explored the potential for setting up a training project to run sustainable building courses throughout the country.

It was agreed to call this training initiative SussEd.

At the same time the AECB was refining it's Gold and Silver standards so we agreed to run the first courses to look at these standards and how they could be implemented (Seecs). Our first module in energy efficient construction skills has now been funded by EEASOX (Energy Efficiency Advisory Service for Oxfordshire) and courses were delivered in.2005 / 6

The SussEd scheme has no funding so any courses that are put on have to be self supporting at the moment. We are looking for funding but we don't want to accept any support that would impinge on our independence.

Having developed and refined the Seecs course we are now planning to run it twice more and then we will be looking to train others to run the course under the AECB SussEd banner.

We aim to run a range courses of interest to our membership and others and some are in the early stages of development. We have agreed that we will not put on a course until we are certain that the information is accurate and current as well as thoroughly peer reviewed. We are also concerned that the courses are well presented and backed up with solid information.

In the longer term we would like SussEd to:-

Create a self financing training arm of the AECB to be set up as a not for profit company 'SussEd'.
Develop links with training providers.
Develop training packages and modules for the construction industry, associated professions and organisations and develop a training 'map' to guide students and industry professionals along a path of 'sustainable construction education'.
Develop core syllabus 'sustainability' elements for existing construction qualifications.
Create a resource bank of suitably accredited training providers to effectively deliver SussEd modules.
Deliver training packages with bespoke courses to construction businesses and core syllabus modules for further education colleges.
Generate a future income stream for the AECB to further develop sustainable awareness in and around the construction industry.

Who are SussEd

The SussEd team (currently constituted as an AECB sub group) is: -

Peter Wilkinson - architectural technologist, building contractor and developer - peterwilkinsonaecb.net
Neill Lewis - architect and educationalist - neillgetsussed.com
Geoff Stow – Self Build advisor and trainer.