First UK tunnelling academy to open later this year

The UK’s only tunnelling and underground construction academy is on course to open later this year.

Located at Aldersbrook in East London, the UK Tunnelling and Underground Construction Academy (TUCA), will train at least 3,500 people to work on Crossrail.

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and Crossrail have invested up to £12.5m in the Academy.

The state-of-the art training facility will include a simulated tunnel boring machine, a sprayed concrete lining training facility, workshop space and teaching rooms. The Academy’s size extends to 3,600m sq m.

Chairman of Crossrail Terry Morgan said:

“The new Tunnelling and Underground Construction Academy is not only a UK first but will support the economy by equipping workers with the specialist skills they need to meet the demand for labour in this area, both for Crossrail and for other major infrastructure projects.”

Rail Minister Theresa Villiers added:

“While the Crossrail project will transform rail travel for London and deliver significant benefits to the UK economy, this new academy will revolutionise the UK’s labour market by training a new generation of highly specialised underground construction workers able to work on major global tunnelling infrastructure projects.”