The Department for Transport, and its agencies, work closely with professional and trade bodies to understand what engineering and technical support capacity will be required by transport in the future. We acknowledge there has been, and remains, a shortage of relevant engineering and technical skills within the UK. However, these constraints are now less critical than in the past given the greater international mobility of labour and the shorter period needed to train people in these skills.
We are seeking to address the remaining skills gaps in a number of ways.
For example, the Highways Agency publishes a forward look of work to enable its suppliers to allocate and manage resources effectively. It works closely with key suppliers, professional and trade bodies to identify and address potential skills and other constraints. The Highways Agency also supports apprenticeship schemes in the construction sector through the national roads programme.
As part of our rail technical strategy we will be outlining the skills the railways will need in the longer term to deliver a more cost effective, sustainable and higher capacity railway.
And for Crossrail, where at the peak of construction in 2013-15 some 14,000 jobs, involving over 40 trades and professions, will be needed, we are working with industry bodies to establish a Tunnelling Academy offering training and recognised qualifications.