Highways England Searches for Apprentices

Highways England has launched a new recruitment drive to find the first cohort of apprentices to join the ambitious Lower Thames Crossing project.

Locals who are based near the proposed scheme are being encouraged to help Highways England with its search for six project management apprentices to join the project this year.

The proposed Lower Thames Crossing has an important role to play in the UK’s economic recovery by supporting 22,000 jobs during its construction, including hundreds of apprentices and graduates. Once it opens for traffic, it will add billions to the economy by creating a direct and reliable connection between people and jobs, as well as the region’s ports and freeports, distribution hubs and manufacturing centres.

This is the first of many intakes of apprentices planned over the development and construction of the project. They will be studying Level 4 project management from September 2021 and will support the delivery of infrastructure ranging from the longest road tunnels in the UK and new roads, to public pathways, green bridges and new parks and forest.

The new apprentices will complete Higher National Certificate qualifications, equivalent to a Foundation Degree, whilst being paid a salary and gaining valuable on-the-job experience. As these are higher apprenticeships, applicants should have either A-Levels or a Level 3 NVQ or BTECH equivalent qualification or relevant experience.

The deadline for applications is Friday, 19 March 2021.

Shaun Pidcock, Thames Crossing Programme Director, said: “The Lower Thames Crossing is the most ambitious road project since the M25 was built 35 years ago. By connecting people to jobs and businesses to customers, we will add billions to the economy and play an important part in the Government’s plan to level up the UK. But perhaps more critically, we can help the country as it recovers from Covid, and support the Government’s plans to build back better, by supporting over 22,000 jobs during the construction.

“We have ambitious plans to build for the future, for which we need driven and hard-working people with a ‘can do’ attitude on our team. That’s why we’ll be creating hundreds of apprenticeships to support local learning and development. These are the first of many incredible opportunities to not only gain the skills and expertise required for delivering a project of this scale, but to be either the first or next big step in building long and rewarding careers.”

Highways England is committed to nurturing local talent that will not only support the delivery of the project but will also support the long-term need and aspirations of the community. The current vacancies have been shared with Kent, Thurrock, Essex and the London Borough of Havering as well as being sent directly to schools and colleges near the proposed route.

The current vacancies will be supported by Highways England regardless of the outcome of the planning process.

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