A new skills academy is being established in Luton to help boost local talent and provide training opportunities for the area.

The facility is being launched by Kier, which is working in a joint venture (JV) with VolkerFitzpatrick to deliver the £225 million Direct Air to Rail Transit (DART) system for the London Luton Airport. A ground-breaking ceremony was held for the project on Wednesday.

The DART system is part of a wider £1.5 billion infrastructure transformation plan for Luton, helping to increase capacity and speed to the fastest-growing major airport in the UK. The double-shuttle, fully automated and driverless system will be around 2.1km in length to transport passengers between Luton Airport Parkway station and London Luton Airport. The route will run between two purpose-built stations at Bartlett Square and the airport terminal, crossing a new landmark bridge over Airport Way.

The new skills academy will provide apprenticeship opportunities and lifelong skills to hundreds of people in the local area. As part of the scheme, 30 apprenticeships are being offered on the DART development while over 200 local residents will be equipped with practical training courses to improve their skill set, such as first aid.

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Working with independent training provider the Learning Skills Partnership (LSP), apprenticeship placements are now open to applications across a number of specialisms, including construction and business administration.

The JV will also engage with schools and colleges across Luton as it looks to inspire the next generation of talent to consider a role within the built environment, providing schoolchildren with training and skills in order to play a part in Luton's extensive pipeline of infrastructure projects.

Overall, it is estimated the academy will return £200 million in positive social impact over the next three years.

Nigel Brook, Kier Executive Director, Construction and Infrastructure Services, said: "We are committed to investing in the communities in which we work and addressing the skills shortage our industry faces. The development of this skills academy gives us a fantastic opportunity to not only engage with the next generation of local talent but also help with recruiting the 400,000 people a year the industry needs.

"We have exceptionally talented people working within our businesses who have helped deliver large infrastructure projects across the country, including the recently completed Mersey Gateway Bridge and current projects with HS2 and Crossrail, and its crucial we pass these skills down to those entering the industry. Our hope is that the iconic DART system inspires many in the local area to rethink a career within the built environment."

For more details on the apprenticeships available on the DART project, email [email protected]

(LM/MH)