Companies carrying out publicly-funded transport construction works will have to meet statutory minimum requirements for the number of apprenticeships created from March.
Under the new measures, firms carrying out works for the Department of Transport, Highways England or Network Rail must establish a new apprentice place for every £3-5 million of taxpayer money spent on a project, or increase the number of apprentices employed in each year of the duration of the contract.
The aim is for the number of apprentices employed to reach 2.5 per cent of the workforce, or five apprenticeships for every 200 full employees.
Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin said the aim is to "attract the nation's talent and equip them with the skills to deliver on our commitment to build a world-class transport infrastructure system".
Projects like Crossrail have already been used to boost apprenticeships, with that scheme creating more than 500 places, well above its original target of 400.
The stated aim of this effort to appoint apprenticeships was to create a "lasting skills legacy for the industry".
