Work is set to start on a new academy which will give thousands of young people the skills and training needed to kick-start a career in construction after VolkerFitzpatrick was notified of Crossrail's intention to award the contract to them.

Next month sees the start of the new Tunnelling and Underground Construction Academy (TUCA) in east London, which will use Crossrail, Europe's largest transport infrastructure project, to offer training to at least 3,500 people in underground construction alone over the lifetime of the project

Crossrail at its peak will employ some 14,000 people and will provide a crucial boost for London's economy. The Tunnelling and Underground Construction Academy aims to address the shortage of people with the necessary skills to work on Crossrail and other tunnelling projects across the UK.

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TUCA will start to offer training in spring 2011 and the building will be fully open by summer 2011. Following the completion of Crossrail the academy will remain providing a lasting legacy for London and the UK construction industry.

The Academy will be located at Aldersbrook Sidings on the border of Newham and Redbridge, close to Ilford town centre. Enabling works are currently taking place on site ahead of main construction starting.

Terry Morgan, Crossrail Chairman, said: "As well as delivering much needed additional rail capacity, Crossrail has an important role to play in supporting regeneration and the economy. Ensuring that job opportunities are made available to Londoners - and that Londoners have the skills required - is a vital part of Crossrail's approach to construction.

"Contractors winning work with Crossrail will recruit and employ local people along the construction route and it is likely many of these people will attend training at the Academy. This will ensure that we have people with the right skills in place to deliver Crossrail for London and many other vital infrastructure projects in the future."

(CD)