Opening in 2011: the Tunnelling and Underground Construction Academy (TUCA)

A new academy that will give thousands of young people the skills and training needed to kick-start a career in construction will open in Spring 2011.

The 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. Following the completion of Crossrail the academy will remain providing a lasting legacy for London and the UK construction industry.

The establishment of a Tunnelling and Underground Construction Academy is an important part of Crossrail meeting its commitments to improve skills and create employment opportunities within the industry. It will provide training on the key skills required to work in tunnel excavation and underground construction.

The Tunnelling and Underground Construction Academy will be a purpose-built facility providing training on the key skills required to work in tunnel excavation and underground construction. Whist the UK has tunnelling expertise and knowledge there is not a purpose-built training facility in the UK to act as a focal point for the industry. Currently the nearest tunnelling and underground training centre is in Switzerland.

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.”