Transport for London (TFL), the local government body responsible for the capital city’s transport system, recently launched a ten-year training and recruitment campaign. The aim is to enlist 18,000 extra full-time employees by 2012 to cope with the demand of large-scale infrastructure jobs.

This figure is expected to increase to 20,000 after 2013. Skills required will include project managers, commercial managers, civil and structural engineers, electrical and mechanical engineers, tunnellers, and general construction workers.

TFL currently has three major tasks – Crossrail (tunnelling and station upgrade, with a budget of £16 billion), London Overground (East London Line extension, £1.4 billion), and the Tube (track upgrade, new signaling systems and station refurbishments, £30 billion). “Basically, we need to double our resources,???? said Ian Brown, managing director for London Rail at TFL.

A 2007 report by the London Skills and Employment Board found that the capital city would face considerable skill shortages in the near future. In response, TFL has been working on strategies to target all the main areas, from managers to general workers. The rail operator will work with local authorities in London and academic institutions across the country to encourage people to train in the relevant disciplines.

Meanwhile, contractors who sign up to work on TFL projects will be required to ensure that they have appropriate personnel and training procedures to deliver the job on time and on budget. “Our supply chain has an obligation to give due attention to labour needs,???? said Valerie Todd, managing director of group services at TFL.