Surrey County Council and construction company, Kier, are planning to launch a careers college to train their own highways workforce.

The training centre is part of plans agreed by the council’s Cabinet to extend Kier’s highways contract by four years and to help young people classed as NEET, not in education, employment or training.

Discussions will take place with the Department for Education to decide the best option; whether to establish an academy, university technical college or whether links with a further education college is the best option for training.