200 jobs on HS2 saved

MORE than 200 Carillion jobs under threat after its collapse last week have been saved.

Construction group Kier and French civil engineering firm Eiffage were awarded a £1.4 billion contract last July as a joint venture with Carillion to build tunnels on the first phase of the HS2 rail line between Birmingham and London.

Kier and Eiffage have now taken a 50/50 partnership to build the tunnels from North Portal Chiltern Tunnels to Brackley and Brackley to Long Itchington Wood Green Tunnel South. As a result, 51 Carillion employees, including apprentices, have been offered the opportunity to join Kier/Eiffage joint venture, with continuous service being maintained.

In a separate announcement, Kier has assumed full responsibility for the smart motorway schemes it had been working on with Carillion for Highways England.

All employees currently working on the projects have been offered the opportunity to join Kier with around 150 employees making the transition in the next week, including seven apprentices.

Wolverhampton-based construction and infrastructure group Carillion was placed into compulsory liquidation after struggling with £900 million of debt and a £590 million pension deficit.

The company was leading the development of One Chamberlain Square, the first building on the £700 million Paradise scheme in Birmingham city centre, and the £558 million Midland Metropolitan Hospital in Smethwick.