HS2’s Job Brokerage Model: UK Rail Skills for High-Speed Success

Introduction

A total of 5,191 job seekers have benefited from specialist training and support to help them progress into new careers on the HS2 project. The initiative is attributed to HS2’s job brokerage model, which involves partnerships with the Department for Work and Pensions, the National Careers Service, local authorities, and employment support services.

Job Brokerage Model

The continued success in engaging and upskilling people ready for work is attributed to HS2’s job brokerage model. Partnerships with the Department for Work and Pensions, the National Careers Service, local authorities, and employment support services along the line of route identify a continual stream of unemployed candidates to put forward for vacancies.

Training Centres and Skills Academies

By working closely with the supply chain, further education colleges and specialist training providers, HS2 has spearheaded the creation of multiple training centres and skills academies – stretching from central London through to Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire and the West Midlands.

Training programmes address nationwide skills shortages and, importantly, the job roles that HS2’s four construction partners need to deliver their respective sections of the 140-mile-long railway. This timely and targeted approach, driven by workforce planning, ensures that HS2’s frontline workforce, and its support teams, have strong local connections, with the right skills, in the right numbers.

Apprenticeships and Career Progression

The latest figures show that 1,922 people have now started an apprenticeship on HS2, with programmes offered at intermediate through to degree-level. In the last quarter, there were 57 new apprentice starts, putting HS2 Ltd a step closer to its target of creating 2,000 apprenticeships.

Onward progression and continued investment in upskilling has led to candidates pursuing a broad range of careers from tunnelling to formwork and civil engineering to surveying. A high proportion of new entrants advance into apprenticeships, where they combine work and study to secure recognised qualifications that align to their chosen career.

Construction Workforce and Future Outlook

The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) forecasts that an extra 240,000 construction workers will be needed over the next five years to support the government’s future growth and housebuilding targets. HS2’s investment in upskilling workers, with transferable skills, will not only benefit HS2’s delivery, but other major construction projects of the future.

HS2’s construction partner, EKFB, has helped Muhammed Tahweed from Coventry to turn his life around. Eager for a new start after a period of unemployment, Muhammed is now working full-time and learning new skills that will enable him to progress in his role as general operative. Muhammed describes the move as “the best decision I have made”. He adds, “There are lots of opportunities to progress and the site is such a welcoming environment. The site management team are always looking out for me and helping me to progress.”

HS2’s construction partner, EKFB, has helped Muhammed Tahweed from Coventry to turn his life around. Eager for a new start after a period of unemployment, Muhammed is now working full-time and learning new skills that will enable him to progress in his role as general operative. Muhammed describes the move as “the best decision I have made”. He adds, “There are lots of opportunities to progress and the site is such a welcoming environment. The site management team are always looking out for me and helping me to progress.”

The construction of Britain’s new railway is now supporting 34,000 jobs. Productivity is at peak, with more tunnel breakthroughs and viaduct completions set to happen over the next 12 months.

HS2 Ltd’s CEO, Mark Wild, is currently resetting the project to make sure it can be delivered to the lowest reasonable cost, and work is underway to prepare new, reliable cost and schedule ranges which will be presented to government later this year.

Conclusion

HS2’s skills and employment team has built and implemented a pre-employment training model that helps individuals build careers. The project has created training centres and skills academies across various locations, and a large number of apprenticeships have been started. HS2 is currently supporting 34,000 jobs, with the CEO working on cost and schedule ranges to be presented to the government later this year.

Company Summary

HS2 Ltd: HS2 Ltd is the company responsible for the High Speed 2 railway project in Britain.

Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV): Balfour Beatty VINCI is a construction partner on the HS2 project.

EKFB: EKFB is a construction partner on the HS2 project.