Alan Johnson, the secretary of state for education, declared this week that next year will be 鈥渢he government鈥檚 year for skills鈥� as he launched the National Skills Academy for Construction in London.

The minister made the statement on Monday at Bovis Lend Lease鈥檚 201 Bishopsgate and Broadgate Tower project near Liverpool Street, where the first training site will be based.

The government plans to establish at least 30 more on large projects, including Olympic sites, over the next five years. Together they will form the construction skills academy.

Johnson said: 鈥淚t is important for social progress that the workforce has the skills it needs, and skills academies are one of the most important projects involved in achieving that.鈥�

Philip Hope, the skills minister, told 好色先生TV that he believed the image of the industry had begun to change. He said: 鈥淭here has been a problem in the past with construction not being seen as glamorous. But if you talk to a 16-year-old girl, she will often see the attractions of the industry, particularly in terms of wages.鈥�

The academy will be funded by the government and employers, which are expected to contribute up to 拢7.5m.

It has been developed by CITB鈥揅onstructionSkills in partnership with the industry.