Continued shortage of skilled labour means that apprentices working on the London Highways Alliance Contracts (LoHAC) have the opportunity to enjoy a “meteoric” career rise, it was said last week.

Transport for London (TfL) managing director for surface transport Leon Daniels said: “These apprentices are operating in an area where there are huge skills shortages so they all have the opportunity – with lots of dedication and hard work – to have a meteoric rise up the career path they have chosen.”

Mr Daniels was one of 14 speakers at LoHAC’s third apprenticeship forum, held at EM Highways’ South East London depot during National Apprenticeship Week last Thursday.

Apprentices from organisations involved in the contracts had the opportunity to present their experiences while more senior personnel shared their own routes to success.

“We don’t do this often enough,” Mr Daniels added. “It’s a great opportunity to get people together for the cross fertilisation of good ideas and to be inspired by others.”

LoHAC, to which 12 London boroughs are currently signed up, is an alliance of TfL, CVU (a joint venture between Colas, Volker Highways and URS), Ringway Jacobs, Conway Aecom and EM Highways.

Civil engineering apprentice with EM Highways Abdul Ahad said: “The apprenticeship is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I’m going to end up with the qualifications I have always wanted without the burden of a huge tuition fee debt.”

TfL asset management director Dana Skelley said: “These forums are really to help the apprentices realise that they are part of a large long term requirement for London. We are always going to need people working on our highways.”

(Photo: TfL)

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