HS2 continues to produce new employment opportunities within their projects, coming through the launch of a giant tunnel boring machine, which set off on its five-mile journey from West Ruislip to Greenford on 6th October.
A bespoke training and work placement programme is being rolled out by HS2’s construction partner, Skanska Costain STRABAG (SCS), working in partnership with Danny Sullivan Group, Camden Council and TheForge@ParkRoyal. This will deliver new employment for residents who live in Brent, Camden, Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham, Hillingdon, Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster.
This three-week training programme will be delivered with the West London College and United Colleges Group, starting on the 24th of October and will be followed by a four-week paid work placement. This enables candidates to immerse themselves within the working culture within construction, gaining valuable hands-on experience as part of the team operating the giant 2,000 tonne machines.
The training programme will afford candidates the vital construction and health and safety accreditation they need to begin working alongside and learning from some of the most experienced engineers in the industry.
There are plans to launch five more tunnel boring machines for the construction programme, creating a total of 26 miles worth of tunnel beneath the capital. This will then be used for the transport of HS2’s British-built bullet-style trains into the terminus station at Euston.
Ambrose Quashie, HS2’s Skills Manager for Greater London said:
“We’re teaming up with some brilliant partners, as we know they are well placed to ensure that local people, who are most in need, benefit from these unique training and employment opportunities on HS2.”
“Tunnelling is a highly skilled career for life, and this is a fantastic opportunity to join the team tasked with constructing some of the most challenging sections of the whole HS2 route.
Skanska Costain STRABAG contractor, Danny Sullivan Group, will be looking for standout candidates throughout the programme and will invest in supplying tunnelling operative apprenticeships to those eager to earn, learn and progress into this specialist engineering role.
Frankie Jones, Skills Employment and Education Manager at Skanska Costain STRABAG Joint Venture said:
“HS2 is a project for future generations, and this extends to inspiring the next generation of the future stars in our industry. It is great to be able to offer a unique opportunity for people to get involved in tunnelling, whilst learning about our programme of construction and helping us construct the railway.”
Camden Council and TheForge@ParkRoyal will play a vital role in supporting residents who are out of work, and live in one for the seven qualifying boroughs, with their job applications. This forms part of an ongoing ‘job brokerage’ partnership with HS2, which is designed to ensure that local people benefit from the thousands of employment opportunities HS2’s construction is creating.
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