Thirty thousand new apprenticeships covering the road and rail sectors will be created over the next five years, the Government promised on Friday.

 

Crossrail chairman Terry Morgan has been appointed to develop a transport and infrastructure skills strategy and a new national training academy for rail is to open this autumn in Northampton.

 

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: “Training our rail and road workforce is essential if we want to build a transport network fit for the future. I want to see every part of Britain benefitting from a growing economy and that is why our investment in transport won’t just help people get around, it will help them get on.”

 

CIHT Director of Education & Membership Sue Stevens welcomed the announcement and said: “The development of a transport and infrastructure skills strategy is vital if we are to meet the Government’s infrastructure targets and remain competitive in a global market.”

 

But on the same day that Government announced its ambition for 30,000 new apprentices it also published plans to charge large employers an apprenticeship levy. A consultation on the proposed levy closes on 2 October. 

 

Business, Innovation & Skills Secretary Sajid Javid said: “Government alone cannot solve the skills challenge we face. Nobody understands the skills employers need better than the employers themselves. That is why we are introducing an apprenticeship levy that will let employers choose and pay for the apprenticeship training they want.”

 

The idea drew concern from the Civil Engineering Contractors’ Association. Chief executive Alasdair Reisner said: “While our industry is familiar with the concept of levy payment, we struggle to see how these proposals will work alongside the existing CITB (Construction Industry Training Board) levy which funds training and development across a wide range of activities for both new recruits and up-skilling of the existing workforce.”

 

CITB policy director Steve Radley encouraged construction employers to respond to the consultation, but added: “These proposals will undoubtedly have implications for the existing construction levy, run by CITB on behalf of industry. Ultimately it will be for construction employers and federations to decide what type of funding and support system is needed to achieve the sector’s full potential on skills, growth and productivity.”

 

♦ Transportation Professional's September issue will include details of apprenticeship training courses in the sector, as part of its annual learning and development special.

 

(Photograph courtesy of Amey)