Nick Raynsford, the former construction minister and deputy chairman of the Construction Industry Council, has become president of industry training scheme Constructionarium.

The scheme, which is open to civil engineering and construction students, is a five-day practical course held at the National Construction College in Norfolk.

Universities form a partnership with a contractor and a consultant and the students must build a scale model of real structures such as the Gherkin or the Kingsgate bridge in Durham.

The Olympic Delivery Authority has agreed to open a branch of the training scheme on the Olympic park next year.