More than 4,500 people who were out of work have started jobs helping to build Britain’s new high-speed railway, latest figures show.
The latest data from HS2 Ltd shows that 246 people who were previously unemployed joined the project between April and June 2024. To date, the total number of formerly unemployed now working on HS2 has reached 4,504.
In all, more than 31,000 jobs are now supported by HS2, with construction continuing at pace between London and the West Midlands. Numbers include those joining the UK’s biggest infrastructure project via apprenticeships and graduate opportunities, as well as those formerly unemployed people helped back into the workplace.
Among those to have launched a new career on HS2 is Brendan Caswell, from Ludgershall, Wiltshire, who works for VGC Group as part of the supply chain for EKFB – HS2 main works contractor and a joint venture made up of Eiffage, Kier, Ferrovial Construction and BAM Nuttall. He previously served in the military as a tank commander before joining EKFB as an Earthworks Supervisor, currently based near Aylesbury.
Brendan said:
“I had worked in construction previously before joining the military. I was interested to continue my career in construction after leaving the military and was put in contact with a local labour manager, who found a role for me on EKFB.
“Being a part of such a large infrastructure project is really exciting, especially to know I’m contributing to something that will transform Britain.”
The latest employment figures are set out in HS2 Ltd’s annual Equality, Diversity and Inclusion report which has been published.
Image Credits: HS2
