Support offered for local firms to win work on the Lower Thames Crossing

Jen Craft, Member of Parliament for Thurrock, said: "I've been very clear that I want local people to benefit from this national infrastructure project.   

"That's why I'm pleased Thurrock's businesses are being given the training and information they need to secure competitive construction contacts, supporting the creation of well-paid jobs.   

"I'll keep working with the Lower Thames Crossing team to ensure local employers are the first to benefit from the support and investment this project will bring." 

Natalie Bonnick, Head of Supply Chain Development, Skills, Education & Employment for the Lower Thames Crossing said: “With work on the Lower Thames Crossing starting this year, there are exciting opportunities for local businesses to get involved and win work on one of Britian’s most important economic projects. That could feel daunting, so these roadshows will support firms and guide them through the process to give them the best possible chance of success.”   

As enabling work on the new road and tunnel ramps up, a huge variety of materials and services will be needed, ranging from earthworks specialists to caterers and machinery hire to waste management.  

Local jobseekers will benefit too, as the Lower Thames Crossing plans to recruit almost half of workers from within 20 miles of the scheme. The first of the project’s Skills Hubs opened last year in Kent, giving local people the chance to upskill in construction free of charge. The topics of the training courses are matched to the project’s immediate needs and upcoming vacancies, and those completing the courses are guaranteed interviews with local firms.  An additional Skills Hub in Essex is due to open in 2027. 

The Lower Thames Crossing is a new road and tunnel that will tackle congestion on the Dartford Crossing and drive economic growth by creating a reliable new link between the ports of the south-east, the Midlands, and the north. 

The project received planning permission in March 2025. In the Budget last year the Chancellor committed the final part of public funding that will enable the private sector to take forward construction and long-term operation of the new road.