By Lynda Myer
In order to support the Open Doors 2023 program, HS2 is collaborating with Build UK, that is an organization representing over 40% of the UK construction industry.
Being held from 13 to 18 March current year, Open Doors enables young people, and those looking for a change of career, to experience construction first-hand. Including the Chilterns Tunnel south portal, Curzon Street Station, Old Oak Common Station, Wendover Dean Viaduct, as well as Willesden Logistics Hub, the sites located between London and the West Midlands, are suggested by HS2 to be explored.
HS2’s construction partners providing the site visits include Align (Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick); BBV (Balfour Beatty Vinci); BBVS (Balfour Beatty Vinci Systra); EKFB (Eiffage, Kier, Ferrovial Construction and BAM Nuttall); and SCS (Skanska, Costain and Strabag).
According to HS2’s skills and employment supply chain manager, Rebecca Young: “It was a great opportunity for those interested in a career in construction to meet people building stations, viaducts, and tunnels.”
She continued: “With over 900 apprentices already on board and plans to recruit hundreds more in the months and years ahead, we hope to inspire the next generation to play a part in future phases of HS2.”
Indicating the intention of Open Doors in order to recruit the next generation by showing them what goes on behind the site hoardings, Build UK chief executive Suzannah Nichol said:” We are delighted to be partnering with HS2, which is opening 16 fantastic sites across the country, including tunnels, viaducts, stations, and training centers. This variety is what Open Doors is all about and will show visitors just how many opportunities and interesting careers there are in construction.”
The commissioning process of Open Doors 2023, with attendance of over 25 young people from Walsall and Warwickshire Colleges, was done by HS2 on its Long Itchington Wood Tunnel North Portal Site near Leamington Spa in previous November.
Along with presenting an insight into a career in construction and an introduction to the range of opportunities to visitors, these events provide familiar site-based construction roles, and many of the positions available are based externally, with companies requiring a back-office support network, front-of-house sales teams, and technical roles.
“From learning more about our carbon-saving viaducts, environment projects, and construction achievements to date – but also the jobs, apprenticeships, and community outreach opportunities we are offering this year – there is something for everyone. This includes a visit to one of our many ecology sites that forms part of HS2’s green corridor, the opportunity to have a go at virtually driving a piece of heavy machinery in one of our plants simulators, and taking a mini-bus tour of one of our live sites to see the works taking place,” said EKFB program director Emmanuel Rossignol.
The sites that are spanning the length of the HS2 Phase One route, are due to run the events throughout the week.
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