Crossrail has welcomed the announcement by the Department for Education and Skills of the opening of a National Skills Academy for Construction.

Keith Berryman, Acting Chief Executive of Cross London Rail Links, emphasised: 'Crossrail fully supports the Government's aims of helping young people to achieve the skills and abilities needed to become personnel within the construction industries.

'The construction and completion of Crossrail will present many career opportunities in the construction industries for young people.'

Crossrail will continue to promote the construction and engineering industries and actively seek ways of supporting the work of the NSA. It will encourage its contractors to participate.

Crossrail has for several years operated a programme, 'Young Crossrail', aimed at encouraging young people to enter the construction and engineering industries.

Young Crossrail activities have included:

• Innovative and exciting educational activities are based around the context of Crossrail, using the curriculum.
o These provide students with opportunities to develop creative solutions to the challenges facing the engineers and architects at Crossrail. It is through this that students discover both the 'process' carried out by professionals and the 'excitement' of the work. It is this 'excitement' that can help encourage young people to seek careers in construction and engineering.

• Careers events
o Designed to introduce young people to the wide variety of career opportunities in construction and engineering. The Crossrail project provides an excellent opportunity due to the variety and breadth of work roles undertaken and has participated in London-wide events like SkillCity and other careers conferences.

• Information materials
o The Link newsletter is a regular publication designed for a wide age range. It provides information about the Crossrail project and profiles the roles of those working on the project, with particular emphasis on women working in both industries.

For further information contact the Crossrail 24 hour seven day a week helpdesk on 0845 602 3813 or e-mail helpdesk@crossrail.co.uk

Ends

Issued 9 December 2005