As part of the skills push a new industry advisory panel, representing all Crossrail-linked and future large tunnelling contractors, will be set up to identify ways to grow the sector.

The volume of tunnelling and underground construction work taking place in England over the next decade is unprecedented with the Thames Tideway Tunnel, National Grid and EDF electricity cable tunnels all requiring significant numbers of skilled people.

Longer term, tunnelling skills will be required for Crossrail 2 and High Speed 2.

Skills Minister Nick Boles yesterday confirmed the Government would release £1.1m to match £1.7m from industry to help deliver the large pipeline of tunnelling projects.

The bulk of the cash will be spent on opening new routes into tunnelling jobs, as well as building the skills of current employees.

This will involve creating many accredited courses to up-skill the tunnelling workforce, working with small sub-contractors and employees at all levels to train a total of 4,813 workers

A further 75 new tunnelling and 20 specialist marine apprenticeships will be created.

Terry Morgan, Crossrail Chairman, said: “We, in partnership with its principal contractors, have delivered the most significant injection of new skills in a generation.

“It is essential that we continue to grow the industry’s talent base to ensure Britain remains at the forefront of major infrastructure delivery.”