Marvin OnumonuMore 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.
“Our investment in upskilling is delivering long-term benefits to individuals and the economy. It’s a legacy benefit we’re exceptionally proud of.”
In the West Midlands, London and the Chilterns, thousands have completed fast-track, six to eight week pre-employment courses.
These give learners the skills and accreditation to start in office and site-based roles.
Successful candidates are matched to jobs or offered paid work trials to help them settle in and decide on a career specialism.
Many new recruits move into apprenticeships in areas from tunnelling to civil engineering and surveying.
The latest figures showed 1,922 people have started an apprenticeship on HS2, with courses from intermediate to degree-level.
There were 57 new apprentice starts in the last quarter, putting HS2 Ltd closer to its target of 2,000 apprenticeships.
