By Ashley Karen
Shabana Mahmood, the Birmingham Ladywood MP, has visited HS2’s Curzon Street Station site to see how Eastside is being transformed in readiness for the entrance of HS2 and the city’s brand-new intercity terminus station.
The visit which was hosted by HS2 and its construction partner Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV), gave Ms. Mahmood a glimpse of the work that is currently underway to prepare for building the viaducts that will bring the new railway into Curzon Street Station.
Ms. Mahmood heard how more than 4,200 people are currently working on contracts supporting the construction of HS2 in the West Midlands, comprising individuals from her constituency who she met on the day.
27-year-old Michael, who lives in the Jewellery Quarter, explained how his career journey on HS2 has seen him promoted from a General Operative to Store Manager in just six months. A former Iranian refugee, Michael shared the heart-warming story of his journey to Birmingham and how he started searching for a new career opportunity after studying for a master’s degree in Chemical Engineering while working part-time in a local fish and chip shop.
After finishing a bespoke training course and paid work trial with Balfour Beatty VINCI, Michael rapidly transitioned into full-time employment working on HS2. His passion and commitment were soon rewarded, and Michael is now part of the team supporting the construction works currently ongoing at the Curzon Street Station site.
Michael asserted:
“This job has provided me with the opportunity and security to build my life in Birmingham and support my family.”
“In a short space of time I’ve been promoted to Store Manager, which is a huge opportunity. As HS2’s construction program progresses, I hope there will be further opportunities to develop my career with BBV on this ground-breaking project.”
HS2’s construction is forecast to make a constant labor requirement for the West Midlands of nearly 10,000 people between now and 2027/28. Balfour Beatty VINCI is actively recruiting for hundreds of new roles to support the design and construction of the 90km section of new railway that it will deliver from Warwickshire into Birmingham city center and on to Staffordshire.
Balfour Beatty VINCI anticipates to be one of the greatest recruiters in the region over the coming years and is committed to ensuring that local people benefit from the thousands of employment opportunities it is generating.
Commenting on the visit and the opportunities for her constituents, Shabana Mahmood MP mentioned:
“It was fantastic to visit the Curzon Street Site of the HS2 project here in Birmingham, where I met a number of apprentices who are benefitting from the project and the skills investment that it is bringing to our city.”
“I spoke with members of HS2’s delivery team about the new Curzon Street Station and saw the huge amount of work being done to prepare the site for construction.”
“It is so important that Britain’s biggest infrastructure project benefits my constituents, ensuring those who live locally will be the first to feel the benefits of HS2 in our city.”
The Head of Stakeholders and Communities at Balfour Beatty VINCI, Shilpi Akbar, stated:
“Attracting new entrants to our industry is critical. As our work continues to gain momentum, we must remain steadfast in our commitment to encouraging and inspiring people across the Midlands to benefit from the opportunities that HS2 presents.”
“We’re taking an active approach to recruitment, but with thousands of positions to become available over the duration of the project, we must not – and will not – stop here. It is through our unique training program that we can offer the best of the region’s talent a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to forge their future careers while working to deliver one of Europe’s largest infrastructure projects.”
For further information about careers and opportunities working on HS2, you can visit here.
