HS2 expands job training scheme

HS2’s Skills Manager for the West Midlands Julie Venn Morton has described the chance to retrain, gain new skills, and start earning a wage in just six-eight weeks as “a fantastic opportunity”.

HS2 construction partner Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV) is expanding its fast-track job training programme. From June onwards, BBV will begin providing training in business administration, digital skills and coding, to enable candidates to progress into a career in information management or document control.

Training will be delivered in a rolling programme at BBV’s Skills Academy at South and City College’s Bordesley Green campus. Register interest by contacting the Skills and Employment team at bbvskills@sccb.ac.uk.

■ HS2 contractors working at the London end of the new line have pledged to employ jobseekers with disabilities and long-term health conditions.

Through their Safe at Heart and other wellbeing programmes, Balfour Beatty VINCI SYSTRA, Skanska Costain and Mace Dragados are working with the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea and the NHS to support local people.