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New college planned to create HS2 engineers

14 Jan 14 The government has announced plans to set up a specialist college to train a generation of engineers to work on the construction of the High Speed 2 (HS2) rail project.

The college will deliver the specialised training and qualifications needed for the project, including construction, rail engineering and environmental skills.

It will be the first new incorporated further education college in more than 20 years.

The intention is that the new college will build relationships with a network of affiliated facilities, including existing colleges, private training providers and higher education institutions.

The announcement was made during a visit to the Old Oak Common railway depot by skills minister Matthew Hancock. He said: “HS2 will be a world class project using cutting edge technology. It is vital we act now to ensure we have enough skilled people to build HS2 and make sure as many jobs as possible are local. This new elite institution with a specific focus on rail construction and maintenance will give learners new skills which respond not only to the needs of HS2, but also to the future of rail engineering so is vital for Britain’s future.”

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HS2 chairman Sir David Higgins said: “This country produces some of the best engineers to be found anywhere in the world. The problem is that there aren’t enough of them, and there isn’t a long enough guaranteed work-stream to keep them here. So they tend to go overseas.

“HS2 provides us with a unique chance to address both issues. The sheer length of the project means we can offer people a rewarding career in engineering staying in this country, whilst the multiplicity of skills required means we will be equipping a new generation with experience at the cutting edge of technology.

“So HS2 gives us the chance not just to re-balance the economic geography of the country, but also our national skills base. It is an opportunity we should seize.”

Secretary of state for business Vince Cable said: “HS2 is the biggest infrastructure project that this government is delivering. So it is right that a large scale investment in bricks and mortar should also come with investment in the elite skills which will help build it. That’s why this government is launching the first further education college in over 20 years, which will train the next generation of engineers in rail, construction and environmental studies that this country needs to prosper.”

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