A new transport skills strategy has been announced which outlines plans to create apprenticeships in the road and rail sector. 

Contracts let for major government transport infrastructure projects will from March 2016 include targets for the creation of new apprenticeships, the government announced.

The new commitment will help deliver government plans to create 30,000 apprenticeships in the road and rail sector by 2020 and forms a major plank of the Department for Transport’s new Transport infrastructure skills strategy.

The Department for Transport, alongside its delivery bodies, including Highways England and Network Rail, will now work with their suppliers to ensure apprenticeships are at the heart of contracts which will deliver the government’s multi-billion pound rail and road investment programme.

Depending on the contract, this means suppliers will either create one apprenticeship for every £3m to £5 of taxpayers’ money spent, or deliver a percentage increase in the number of apprentices employed each year during the lifetime of the contract. In these cases the aim is that the number of apprenticeships created each year will equal 2.5% of the workforce, so for every 200 people employed, five apprenticeships will be created each year.

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said:

“Our record investment in the transport system won’t just deliver new world-class infrastructure, it will create opportunity for people across the UK by guaranteeing apprenticeships through contracts. We are creating thousands of high quality careers across the country, many of which are cutting edge, highly technical and require Britain’s best minds.

“Our skills strategy sets out what we are doing to making these job opportunities highly desirable, so we can attract the nation’s talent and equip them with the skills to deliver on our commitment to build a world class transport infrastructure system.”