Industry Skills Gap Could Jeopardise UK Crossrail Project

A leading industry body says a critical skills gap could pose major challenges for building the new London Crossrail project, which was given government go-ahead today.

While UK-based industry organisation the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE) has welcomed the £16bn Crossrail scheme it has voiced concerns over the implementation of the project.

"Given current skills shortages, resourcing Crossrail and projects like it will be challenging," says ACE CEO Nelson Ogunshakin.

"The industry will need to work together to optimise the utilisation of resources across all forthcoming mega projects in the capital to deliver schemes including London 2012, the M25 widening, Kings Cross and now Crossrail."

Crossrail will link Maidenhead and Heathrow in the west with Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east and will include new stations at key city locations across the capital.

By Ozge Ibrahim