Star performers in HS2 construction projects honoured by minister
HS2 Minister Andrew Stephenson welcomed companies and workers to the Houses of Parliament on July 4, to present awards to businesses and individuals who have best supported its construction.
Joined by other MPs, Stephenson said: “With almost 25,000 people across 340 sites, today is a chance to reflect on the personal achievements of those who are working hard to ensure that HS2 transforms communities and changes lives.”
The Costain Skanska Joint
Venture beat two contenders for the Community Impact Award. It found ways to help rough sleepers at Euston and get seven of them back into jobs, four with HS2.
Apprentice of the Year prizes went to Divine Makondele (25) from TG Tunnelling and Sam Arrowsmith (21), a project manager.
The Skills Legacy trophy went to Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV) for establishing its Birmingham Skills Academy, while Align won the STEM Contribution award for its schools programme and help for the disabled.
In the Inclusive Leaders section, Katherine Grigg, a construction manager with Skanska Costain STRABAG, was congratulated for her outstanding contribution.
In the Minority-Owned Business Champion category, SCS Railways was recognised for creating a £135 million supply chain involving local small businesses, while the Modern Slavery Prevention award went to BVC Group for its robust approach to addressing the dangers of hidden labour exploitation.
The one millionth tonne of aggregate has arrived at an HS2 construction site.
And it has all come by rail, with materials supplier Hanson locked into rail at its quarries in Somerset, and other companies such as Mendip Rail adopting similar long-term policies. DB Cargo is the freight operator.
The volume shifted so far is a tenth of the quantity expected to
be needed to complete the HS2 contract over the next decade, which will require the running of an estimated 15,000 trains.
HS2 Ltd has been a Hanson customer for the past 18 months. It says it would have taken 100,000 lorry journeys to move the same quantities of stone as the 583 trains so far, to locations around Calvert and Aylesbury.
Ironically, much of it is needed to install temporary site access roads for lorries to use.
One of HS2’s main contractors is offering 20-day paid career trials for young people on its tunnelling contracts at Long Itchington Wood (Warwickshire).
Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV) says it wants to encourage local people to work on the project, and is targeting those who want to start a new career in the construction sector.
Successful candidates will be given work in the second phase of the tunnelling programme with Tunnel Boring Machine Dorothy last this summer, and at the slurry treatment plant and mechanical and electrical works. The scheme is open to over-18s.