Wanted: skilled professionals

Rail Minister Claire Perry said that the biggest challenge for the industry over the next decade is finding skilled professionals for new projects.

Perry told the National Rail Conference in Leeds on November 5: “Over the next decade, successful bidders will build 230km of bridges, tunnels and earthworks, requiring 25,000 skilled professionals, at a time when we also need those people to work on other road and rail infrastructure schemes.

“So where are they going to come from? The Government is absolutely committed to delivering apprenticeships, with a commitment to train three million by 2020. 

• For much more on this, Perry's speech at the National Rail Conference, and NRC coverage in general, read RAIL 788, published on November 25.