UP to 45 apprenticeships and 280 pupil weeks of work experience will be included in the �112million contract to re-build Fenland's schools - starting with Neale-Wade Community College in March and Thomas Clarkson Community College in Wisbech.

EXCLUSIVE by: JOHN ELWORTHY

UP to 45 apprenticeships and 280 pupil weeks of work experience will be included in the �112million contract to re-build Fenland schools.

Equitix, the company awarded the multi-million pound deal, has also pledged that half of their investment will be delivered by local firms.

Work on the first phase, the �55million redevelopment of the Thomas Clarkson Community College, Wisbech, and the Neale-Wade Community College, March, could start as soon as this summer.

Equitix also pledged that 6,000 hours would be on offer to students to support career development.

"Equitix and its partners are committing to supporting young people and adults to find work by providing mentors to support the Government's New Deal programme," said a company spokesman.

Alan Kippax, project director for the Building Schools for the Future initiative in Fenland, said: "It means, for example, that at the Thomas Clarkson College, where Wisbech-based Kier Construction will carry out the work for Equitix, you will also have many employees working on site who attended the school. In that sense they are keeping the work local, too.

"And the supply chain will also be looking, wherever possible, at local suppliers."

Mr Kippax said Equitix will, for example, work with providers of diplomas in construction and engineering to give real skills to young people.

"BSF has the laudable ambition to do more than simply build schools, it's also about support for the wider community," he added.

• Other Fenland schools in the next wave of BSF work will see these schools re-built: Sir Harry Smith Community College, Whittlesey; Cromwell Community College, Chatteris; Fenland Junction Pupil Referral Unit, March; Meadowgate Special School, Wisbech.