TfL seeks Tunnelling and Underground Construction Academy training provider

Transport for London (TfL) has launched a procurement process for a new training provider at the Tunnelling and Underground Construction Academy (TUCA) in Ilford, east London.

TUCA was built and established by Crossrail Limited in 2011. With backing from the Skills Funding Agency, the academy aimed to meet the skills training needs of the Crossrail project and the wider industry. TUCA will continue to deliver the training and skills required by the contractors working on the Crossrail project and may be used on future projects.

Provider to have access to state-of-the-art tunnelling and construction facilities

The successful provider will be based at the site at Ilford and have access to its state-of-the-art tunnelling and construction facilities, as part of the Crossrail legacy. This opportunity will allow training providers to continue to provide tunnelling and underground construction training at the TUCA site. However, TfL also states that it is keen to drive innovation and best use of the site, including the development of transport, engineering and railway training programmes.

 The successful bid will both deliver training programmes, including apprenticeships, to serve the wider transport and infrastructure sector (as defined in the recent DfT Skills Strategy), and maximise the use of the facilities, to generate additional revenue from training and events. The proposed contractual arrangement is for a four year term, with an optional one year extension.

Danny Fox, Deputy Director for Crossrail Operations, said: “The £13m Tunnelling and Underground Construction Academy has played a leading role in supporting the skills requirements of the Crossrail project. This is an exciting opportunity for training providers as it’s one of the first times that such a facility has been made available to the wider underground and transport industries.

“We are immensely proud of the state-of-the-art tunnelling and construction facilities at TUCA and of the legacy that the Crossrail construction project is creating. TUCA will continue to play a leading role in supporting the next generation of UK tunnelling, construction and transport projects. We look forward to welcoming bids from all areas of the industry.”

TfL expects the successful bidder to be appointed by October 2016, with the successful bidder commencing by 7 January 2017.

The closing date for submissions is 27 June 2016.