National Highways has opened the first of its new Skills Hubs in Gravesend, to provide free work-based training for local people who want to join or learn new skills in the construction industry.
The Lower Thames Crossing is one of Britain’s most important economic infrastructure projects, that will tackle congestion on the Dartford Crossing and create opportunities for work and businesses by creating a reliable new link between the ports of the south east, the Midlands, and the north.
It will create new jobs and offer local people new skills by recruiting around half of its workforce within 20 miles of the project. The Skills Hubs will develop a local workforce with the skills needed to deliver the Lower Thames Crossing, and help the wider construction industry deliver the existing pipeline of infrastructure projects.
As the first major project in the UK to be carbon neutral in construction, the Skills Hubs will also help develop a workforce with the skills needed to use a new generation of machinery and materials such as hydrogen powered excavators and low-carbon concrete and steel.
The initiative will also help the National Highways project to tackle local and industry skills shortages, with an estimated 35,000 construction sector vacancies across the country.
Lord David Blunkett, Skills Advisor, Lower Thames Crossing, said:
“We all want to see economic growth across the country that delivers real opportunities for people to improve their lives. Infrastructure projects such as the Lower Thames Crossing have the unique ability to deliver on this.
“[The] launch of the Lower Thames Crossing Skills Hub in Gravesham demonstrates the ability of once in a generation infrastructure projects to provide local people with new skills. The Skills Hub can act as a catalyst for lifelong careers in the construction sector, ensuring participants receive accredited qualifications and a guaranteed job interview.
“The Skills Hub will help unlock the regional and national economy, strengthening the local supply chain and ensuring construction projects of the future can draw upon a robust workforce.
“I look forward to the Lower Thames Crossing’s continued commitment to skills development and creating the next generation of construction workers.”
(Pic: National Highways)
