The freeport, which will create thousands of jobs, will add more than £5 billion to the UK economy.
Work is said to be progressing well to establish the Thames Freeport, with £1.2 million skills funding announced to help residents develop the skills they need for these job opportunities.
The funding will provide training for people, equipping them with necessary skills for the new career opportunities that the freeport will offer.
This includes funding for Tilbury Library to extend its opening hours and provide computer training and work readiness programmes as part of the ‘We are Tilbury’ initiative.
The initiative will work with the community to identify barriers to work and training, and support new projects, including providing computers for pupils in schools.
Further funding will also be made available for university bursaries in local secondary schools, support for the voluntary sector, and the creation of new university courses in emerging technologies and industries.
Councillor John Kent, leader of Thurrock Council, said: “Thames Freeport is set to create thousands of local jobs, attract £4.6 billion in investment and contribute £5.1 billion to the UK economy a year.
“It will create fantastic opportunities of careers in cutting-edge industries and it is great to see that schemes that will help make sure local people can take full advantage of those opportunities are already getting underway.
“It is early days for the Freeport but we are working with them to make sure that as it develops it helps create opportunities for Thurrock’s residents.”