Crossrail’s pledge to create lasting skills and employment for Londoners was boosted by the launch of their Skills and Employment Strategy at City Hall last week. Up to 14,000 people will be employed at the peak of construction of the railway between 2013 and 2015 giving Londoners the chance to benefit from Crossrail. The Strategy sets out how local people will be provided with opportunities to work Crossrail.
Crossrail also announced its partnership with Jobcentre Plus (JCP), which aims to provide local people with opportunities to work on the project. JCP works with a network of local job brokerage and outreach agencies to match vacancies to suitable candidates and arrange interviews.
The Mayor of London Boris Johnson said, “We want Londoners to benefit from this project in everyway and that means giving them the chance to learn the skills and benefit from the jobs created by the scheme.”
“A new national tunnelling and underground construction academy and major apprentice scheme will help workers develop useful skills for future employment in the industry. Crossrail will be more than a world-class railway – for tens of thousands of people it could be the route to a successful career,” added Transport Minister Theresa Villiers.
Crossrail has committed to delivering at least 400 apprenticeships over the lifetime of the project. All main works contractors will be obliged to deliver one apprentice (or equivalent) for every GBP3M (USD4.6M) spent. Apprenticeships will be offered from late 2010 as contracts are awarded. Crossrail is working in partnership with the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) to support contractors employed on Crossrail in delivering apprenticeship programmes.
Simon Waugh, National Apprenticeship Service chief executive said, “I am delighted that Crossrail has committed to delivering at least 400 apprenticeships over its lifetime. Crossrail apprentices will not only benefit London’s economy, but also have the opportunity to contribute to a lasting legacy for the Capital”.
Crossrail’s plan to develop a specialist Tunnelling and Underground Construction Academy (TUCA) is set out in the strategy. The volume of tunnelling and underground construction work taking place in the UK over the next decade is unprecedented but the new academy will ensure that there are sufficient numbers of people with the skills to work safely to satisfy industry demand.
Some GBP5M (USD7.7M) in funding will be provided for the Academy by the Department of Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) via the Skills Funding Agency (SFA). The new facility will ensure that all people working underground on Crossrail sites achieve the Underground Safety Passport.
