HS2 recruiting for hundreds of jobs as major construction work moves closer

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Nicky Godding

Hundreds of vacancies across a broad range of disciplines, from engineering and project management to land and property, procurement and commercial are amongst those to be advertised from today as part of a three-month direct-recruitment drive by HS2.

More than 300 of the roles will be based in the West Midlands, and the new roles announced today will push the total number of jobs the project has supported to over 10,000 once recruited.

The jobs boost stems from the Government’s backing of the project earlier this spring and its placing HS2 as integral to the ‘levelling up’ agenda, which will boost regional economies outside of London, improve Britain’s railways and deliver a cleaner, greener, transport solution.

HS2 Minister Andrew Stephenson said: “These jobs are a welcome boost for workers across the country at this challenging time, providing the opportunity to play a crucial part in delivering HS2, an integral part of improving connectivity and levelling up our country.

“We continue to work with the transport and construction industry to accelerate projects, where safely possible, to kickstart our economy, provide more employment opportunities and drive our recovery as we build out of Covid-19.”

Major construction of HS2’s first phase, between Birmingham and London, is weeks away and HS2 needs to bolster its workforce so it can press ahead with delivering this transformative project.

Mark Thurston, CEO of HS2 Ltd said: “With many people facing uncertain job security and worried about future prospects in the current crisis, I hope this will be welcome news for anyone seeking a long-term and rewarding career with a company that places health, safety, equality and diversity at the very top of its priority list.

“As part of the HS2 team you’ll be shaping British history; transforming our Victorian railways and supporting the regeneration and economic prosperity of towns and cities right along the route.”

The size and scale of HS2 offers a broad range of career opportunities. Applicants who may not have traditionally considered a career in the construction and rail engineering sectors are encouraged to sign up to HS2’s Talent Pools for a skills match assessment. Where there is a skills match, which takes account of essential and transferrable skills, applicants will be invited to apply for roles.

Nicky Godding

Nicky Godding is editor of The Business Magazine. Before her journalism career, she worked mainly in public relations moving into writing when she was invited to launch Retail Watch, a publication covering retail and real estate across Europe. After some years of constant travelling, she tucked away her passport and concentrated on business writing, co-founding a successful regional business magazine. She has interviewed some of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs who have built multi-million-pound businesses and reported on many science and technology firsts. She reports on the region’s thriving business economy from start-ups, family businesses and multi-million-pound corporations, to the professionals that support their growth and the institutions that educate the next generation of business leaders.