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Cambridge University is planning to force building contractors to submit staff training plans when they bid for university projects.

This has been prompted by a series of building schemes that have taken longer and cost more than expected, stemming from a shortage of skilled tradesmen and a lack of training in the construction industry.

David Adamson, Cambridge's director of estate management and building service, said that many companies did not take up money available for training from organisations such as the Construction Industry Training Board.

University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, University College London and Oxford and Bristol universities are also involved in the project, funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England.