Lower Thames Crossing launches new Skills Hubs with pilot programme for prison leavers
The Lower Thames Crossing has today (Wednesday, 23 October) launched a pilot Skills Hub providing work-based training courses for participants that include men and women on day release from Kent based prisons and local people already in the construction workforce seeking higher skilled jobs.
The service seeks to break down employment barriers for local people including prison leavers, long-term unemployed, and women returners by offering free training whilst being affordable for businesses.
Training will improve participants’ access to higher skilled and better paid work by prioritising in-demand skills and those needed to deliver the next generation of low-carbon and modern construction projects.
The pilot is being run with Kent based family run business Gallagher Group, at their Maidstone quarry site, and Flannery Plant Hire, a leader in UK plant supply and skills bootcamp training.
More than 20 people will take part in the pilot, including six men and women on day release from Stanford Hill and East Sutton Park prisons in Kent, who will gain Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS) card ready to work on site, along with guaranteed job interviews through Gallagher’s and Flannery’s supply chains. Other attendees, who are already in local employment, will gain site supervisor qualifications enabling them to progress into more senior roles.
Following learnings from the pilot the plan is to roll out a series of new Skills Hubs across Kent and Essex in 2025. These will be in partnership with the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), local education providers and the project’s supply chain to continue addressing local skills needs after construction of the proposed Lower Thames Crossing.
As part of the project’s drive to deliver a lasting skills legacy, it has appointed Lord David Blunkett, former Education and Employment Secretary, as its independent skills and education advisor to help shape and develop the project’s approach to skills.
Lord David Blunkett, Skills Advisor, Lower Thames Crossing, said: “It’s no secret that there is a national shortage of skills across the country which poses a significant challenge to economic growth. The Lower Thames Crossing Skills Hubs will break down barriers to opportunity by tackling skills shortages today, and by forging a pathway to a high-skills economy, and resilient future for the construction industry in Kent, Essex, and the region.”
Katharina Ferguson, Supply Chain Development Director, Lower Thames Crossing, said: “The Lower Thames Crossing offers a real opportunity to build futures through the Skills Hubs by addressing skills shortages, while transforming the lives of people in our communities for the better by helping the long-term unemployed into work and giving people the tools to access higher skilled and better paid employment. They will also provide local businesses and their staff with the modern construction skills they need to win work on the next generation of low carbon infrastructure projects.”
Sean Connor, Managing Director, Gallagher Group said: “Kent is calling out for better training prospects, so we’re delighted to be involved in driving that change. When we’re putting our workforce on training now, it often means sending them across the country wasting extra time and costs. The Skills Hubs will offer a huge opportunity for businesses like ours, but also SMEs across the area with little to no cost for upskilling their workforce.”
Patrick Flannery, Director, Flannery Plant Hire, said: “The Skills Bootcamps have the potential to make a real difference to people’s lives by bridging the gap between experience and qualifications and getting them either work ready or setting them up for progression. They’ve proven beneficial on other major infrastructure projects across the county, so we’re excited to continue this work supporting local people in Kent.”
Amy Dixon, Governor for East Sutton Park Prison and Young Offender Institution in Maidstone, said: “It's so important for people leaving prison to have meaningful opportunities to be able to move on and succeed. We're delighted to be working with local businesses and the Lower Thames Crossing Skills Hubs to take advantage of these invaluable skills programmes as they give people the tools, qualification, and experience they need to build a better future for themselves and our communities.”
When open to traffic, the Lower Thames Crossing will give the UK economy an up to £40 billion boost by tackling congestion on the Dartford Crossing and creating a reliable new connection between the north, the midlands and the ports of the south-east.
As the first in a new generation of infrastructure projects the Lower Thames Crossing will accelerate the UK construction industry’s journey to net zero by scaling up the use of low-carbon construction methods. The project has already cut its predicted carbon footprint by 50% and will seek to cut it further by using hydrogen to power its heavy machinery instead of diesel.
The Secretary of State for Transport recently announced that the deadline for Government to make a decision on the Lower Thames Crossing’s Development Consent Order (DCO) application has been extended to 23 May 2025. This is to allow more time to consider the application further, including any decisions made as part of the spending review. If the Lower Thames Crossing is granted planning permission and is funded, construction is expected to take six-years, with road opening in 2032.
Notes to Editors
Lord David Blunkett will bring in learning from government, other projects and further education providers, to ensure the Lower Thames Crossing delivers a lasting skills legacy for local communities and the construction industry.
About Lower Thames Crossing
The Lower Thames Crossing is a proposed new road that would connect Kent and Essex through a tunnel beneath the River Thames.
Construction will support thousands of new work opportunities for people and businesses, including providing hundreds of new apprenticeships and hours of support to local schools.
Skills needs that the Lower Thames Crossing will be looking to address through the Skills Hubs include plant operators, groundworkers, general operatives, steel fixers, carpenters, site supervisors and engineers.
The Lower Thames Crossing is exploring funding opportunities for the Skills Hubs, such as via CITB. Training offered by the Hubs will be delivered through existing funding from the Department for Education, Department for Work and Pensions and Adult Education budgets.
About Gallagher Group
Gallagher Group are a specialist supplier for aggregates, groundworks and civil engineering services based in Kent, who are passionate about supplying local work opportunities. The pilot partnership means they can support the upskilling of their workforce and wider local supply chain partners.
About Flannery Plant Hire
Flannery Plant Hire are a leader in plant supply across the UK and have been running Skills Bootcamps for the past three years. They have a contract with the Department for Education for running annual Skills Bootcamps and see more than 350 people per year go through the training programme, with the 1000th person expected to complete as part of the Lower Thames Crossing Skills Hub Pilot.
About National Highways
National Highways is the wholly government-owned company responsible for modernising, maintaining and operating England’s motorways and major A roads.
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