HS2 is continuing to deliver on its promise of local job creation and skills development, with 69 new careers launched in the last three months alone through its Midlands-based construction partner, Balfour Beatty VINCI. These figures are expected to rise as more candidates complete employment-ready training programmes.
To date, 12,535 local residents are employed on HS2, making up over a third of the project’s 34,000-strong workforce. This includes 740 apprentices and 1,936 individuals who have transitioned into employment following a period of unemployment.
BBV works with nine further education providers across Warwickshire and the West Midlands to deliver practical and theoretical training tailored to HS2’s needs. Over 40 fast-track programmes have been delivered since construction began, enabling successful candidates to move into site and office-based roles in as little as three weeks.
A standout partnership with Birmingham Metropolitan College has led to 25 paid work trials, with 16 progressing to full-time employment. A recent three-week business communication course resulted in five job offers, showcasing the success of BBV’s innovative approach to workforce development.
Julie Venn-Morton, Senior Skills and Inclusion Manger for the West Midlands at HS2 Ltd, said:
“HS2’s training programmes are helping people of all ages to access employment. Whether stepping out into the world of work for the very first time, or opting to retrain, HS2 is getting people into jobs and boosting their long-term career prospects.”
HS2 is forecast to deliver a £10 billion economic boost to the West Midlands over the next decade. Immediate benefits are already being felt through local employment and supply chain contracts.
Once complete, HS2 will connect London and the West Midlands with faster, more reliable journeys, freeing up capacity on the congested West Coast Main Line and supporting broader economic growth.
Image credit: HS2 Ltd
