Thousands of unemployed people progress into careers on HS2

More jobseekers have moved into jobs on HS2, with 168 unemployed people joining in the last three months and 5,191 in total now in new careers on the railway, according to figures released.

The rise in recruitment follows HS2’s job brokerage model, which links up with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), National Careers Service, local councils and employment support services along the route. 

This system helps find unemployed candidates for vacancies.

HS2 has also set up training centres and skills academies in areas from Central London through Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire and the West Midlands. 

The training targets skills shortages and matches the job roles needed by HS2’s four construction partners to deliver the 140-mile railway.

The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) forecast that an extra 240,000 construction workers will be needed over the next five years to meet Government growth and housing targets. 

HS2’s investment in upskilling workers is expected to benefit both the project and other future construction schemes.

Rebecca Young, head of skills and inclusion at HS2 Ltd, said: “HS2’s skills and employment team has built and implemented a world-class pre-employment training model that is helping people to turn their lives around and build promising careers.