UK procurement for new TUCA training provider 08 Jun 2016

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

Royal seal of approval for TUCA (2012)

TUCA was built and established by Crossrail Limited in 2011 at a cost of £13 million – with a £5 million contribution from the UK Government’s Skills Funding Agency – for the purpose of meeting the skills training needs of the Crossrail mega-project and the wider underground construction industry. TUCA will continue to deliver the training and skills required by the contractors working on the Crossrail project, and may also be used to provide training for a healthy pipeline of future UK tunnel projects, including Thames Tideway.

The successful provider will be based at the site at Ilford and have access to its state-of-the-art tunnelling and underground construction facilities, built as part of the Crossrail legacy. The successful bidder will continue to provide tunnelling and underground construction training at the TUCA site, as well as apprenticeships in associated trades, but TfL is keen to extend the range of courses on offer to include the development of transport, engineering and railway training programmes.

Shotcrete training facilities at TUCA

The proposed contractual arrangement is for a four-year term, with an optional one-year extension.

Danny Fox, Deputy Director for Crossrail Operations, said: “TUCA has played a leading role in supporting the skills requirements of the Crossrail project and this is an exciting opportunity for training providers since this is 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 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, and we look forward to welcoming bids from all areas of the industry.”

TfL expects the successful bidder to be appointed by October 2016. Bids must be received no later than 27 June.