United Utilities has outlined plans for a £1 million Induction Hub and Skills Academy designed to induct and train up to 10,000 people over the next five years.

A planning application has been submitted to Wigan Council for the proposed facility, which would be located in Haydock adjacent to the M6 and A580 East Lancs Road.

The centre would support United Utilities and its Enterprise partners — a collaborative model that brings together the company and seven design and construction partners — to help deliver major environmental and infrastructure projects within its £13.5 billion investment programme.

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On the 14‑acre site, proposals include 12,000 sq ft of space dedicated to future skills and career development, as well as induction areas for workers joining large construction schemes delivered through the Enterprise.

Planned provision includes practical training in health and safety, HGV simulation, plant operations, lifting operations, service avoidance, traffic management, construction hazards identification and response, and frontline supervision.

Tony Slater, Enterprise Director said: "This academy will transform the way we introduce new people into the business, giving them hands-on experience and the critical skills they need to ensure we can deliver water and wastewater infrastructure schemes right across the North West.

"The facility is a game-changer, giving people the real-world skills needed for a variety of jobs."

The Enterprise Induction Hub and Skills Academy builds on existing United Utilities training, with more than 400 apprentices already trained at its state‑of‑the‑art technical academy in Bolton.

The company is also recruiting more than 100 apprentices this year as it embarks on the biggest upgrade of water and wastewater infrastructure in more than a century.