A ground-breaking three-year partnership supports Service leavers and veterans into construction careers.
A trailblazing three-year partnership between Lovell, Morgan Sindall Construction and the Building Heroes Education Foundation launches the industry focused sponsorship of the Darlington Skills Academy, a major support hub for Service leavers and veterans looking to enter into a career within the construction industry, delivered with Darlington College, a leading FE institution and outstanding training partner in the North East.
This strategic alliance underscores each divisions commitment to the former military community, social mobility, upskilling, and widening access to meaningful careers across construction, housebuilding, facilities management and infrastructure. In 2025, the Group and all its associated divisions achieved the Gold accreditation of the Armed Forces Covenant.
The collaboration will provide Building Heroes learners with real-world insight, strong industry connections, and a breadth of opportunity across the built environment. When working with Lovell and Morgan Sindall Construction, learners will benefit from the wider experience of other divisions of Morgan Sindall Group and their extensive supply chain.
Darlington College, recognised as a centre of excellence for technical and vocational skills, brings a collaborative, progressive, and employer-led approach to the partnership. Its modern facilities, expert tutors, and commitment to upskilling and redeployment make it the ideal environment to prepare learners for successful civilian careers in construction and the built environment.
The sponsorship is expected to directly support a minimum of 80 learners per year through the Darlington provision, but engagement from Lovell and Morgan Sindall Construction will be welcomed across the whole of the Building Heroes network which currently support 700 learners per year, with capacity set to grow as the Darlington Skills Academy expands its training offer. To date, Building Heroes has supported over 4,200 military-connected learners across it’s training network to access nationally recognised civilian qualifications, CSCS cards, and health & safety awards. This partnership ensures the organisation can continue to provide barrier-free training not only in Darlington but across Britain, supporting Service leavers, veterans and the wider former military community into meaningful employment.
For Building Heroes, the partnership brings stability and room to grow: it underpins their barrier-free training offer in Darlington and enables development of an “Enhanced Academy” over the coming years - expanding programmes, deepening employer engagement, and enhancing outcomes for Service leavers, veterans and the wider former military community.
Situated close to Catterick Garrison, the Darlington region is at the heart of the British Armed Forces community. The Darlington Skills Academy is ideally placed to support former forces personnel and their families, from both the local and national military community, to upskill and access opportunities to develop sustainable, skilled careers in the construction and infrastructure sectors.
John Leary, who leads the Building Heroes initiative for Lovell, said: “It has been a privilege to help nurture our relationship with Building Heroes over the last three years or so, and I am particularly thrilled that just as our year of Gold Sponsorship has come to an end, we are able to now ensure our work with the charity can solidly mature to a wholly new level, through our planned development of an enhanced academy at Darlington College.
“Moreover, with our sister company Morgan Sindall Construction now alongside us, we have a much broader capability and skill-set with which to support the Charity and seek to enhance the Learners’ experience through an exciting programme of site exchanges and other interaction, all of which will clearly and soundly underpin our Group’s pledges under the Armed Forces Covenant and, importantly, help create new opportunities for Service leavers and veterans in Darlington and across the wider North East.”
Andrew Waddington, Head of Design for Morgan Sindall Construction in London, who has championed the Group’s Armed Forces commitments having spent 19 years serving in the Royal Engineers himself commented: “Our partnerships with specialised armed forces organisations such as Building Heroes means that we can work in collaboration to deliver the specific requirements of Service leavers, veterans and the former military community.
“Our decentralised business model means that we are working in close partnership with our local communities and the defence sector via our social value teams and we’re looking forward to applying this approach to our Building Heroes partnership.”
Christopher Charles, Chief Executive of Building Heroes Education Foundation, responded: “This support is a powerful statement of trust in Building Heroes and in the potential of Service leavers and veterans. Lovell and Morgan Sindall Construction are demonstrating what responsible industry leadership looks like, backing people, places and skills. In Darlington, close to the Catterick community, this partnership will expand opportunity and deliver real outcomes: recognised qualifications, site exposure and job-ready talent that helps address the sector’s skills shortage. We’re proud to stand together on this, and excited for the impact we’ll deliver over the next three years.”
