HS2 to have its own college to train engineers

THE HS2 high-speed rail project is to have a dedicated further education college to train engineers.

Announced by skills and enterprise minister Matthew Hancock yesterday, the college will train students in the skills needed to construct the railway. It is set to open in 2017.

This would be England’s first new further education college for 20 years but as yet there are no details of where the college would be located or its funding.

Sir David Higgins, who is officially beginning his new job as chairman of HS2, said the college would address the problem of a lack of engineers.

Business secretary Vince Cable said the college would “train the next generation of engineers in rail, construction and environmental studies that this country needs to prosper”.

He added: “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.”

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills said the college would have “cutting-edge technology and use state-of-the-art equipment” to provide training courses for the specific needs of the rail project, which is expected to generate more than 2,000 apprenticeships.

Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin said that when HS2 is completed it would “underpin the delivery of 400,000 jobs”.

The first phase of HS2 – Birmingham to London – is due for completion in 2026, with a second phase, taking the line on a Y-shaped route to Manchester and Leeds due to be finished in 2032/33.

Hancock made the announcement on a visit to the HS2 cross-over station site at Old Oak Common in London.