Creating skilled jobs and supporting communities across Buckinghamshire

Align, a joint venture of Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine and VolkerFitzpatrick, is responsible for delivering a 13.4-mile section of the line which travels from the outskirts of London into Buckinghamshire. The contractor plans to hire 1,200 people with a focus on upskilling those who are currently unemployed. Align will also employ over 100 apprentices.

The next section of the line, which runs for 50 miles through Buckinghamshire and three other neighbouring counties, is being constructed by Eiffage, Kier, Ferrovial Construction and BAM Nuttall (EKFB). EKFB currently supports 900 roles in the area – and many more in the local supply chain. They are looking to recruit 2,500 skilled operatives and have hundreds of office-based jobs coming up in the next few years.

Skills legacy

Working with HS2 Ltd – the team leading the design and construction of the railway – both Align and EKFB are delivering a programme of skills, education and employment activities to meet the requirements of building the railway. This will leave a highly skilled and diverse workforce as a legacy that will serve Britain for the future.

Align is constructing the 10-mile, twin-bore Chiltern Tunnel which is designed to preserve the natural beauty and biodiversity of the landscape above by allowing trains to travel underground. (Image: HS2 Ltd)

From learning to operate dumper trucks and excavators, to boosting management skills, a wide range of training opportunities are on offer. EKFB, for example, has trained hundreds of people over the past couple of years in partnership with local education providers close to its sites, including Buckinghamshire College Group.

Meanwhile, EKFB is currently recruiting for 11 new apprentice roles on HS2 which will be based in Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire. The roles offer opportunities in civil engineering, business administration, project controls, commercial and procurement.

20-year-old Liam lives and works in Bucks, where he is studying for an apprenticeship in Civil Engineering at EKFB. He said:

“There are many opportunities that come with working with EKFB on the HS2 project. The knowledge that you gain will help you to greatly progress in your career. No two days are the same; there’s always something new that you can do or experience and having the opportunities to move around the different sections and work with all the teams gives you the chance to find what you enjoy the most.”

EKFB quantity surveyor Verity says: “You don’t have to be an engineer to work in construction: there are a variety of roles required on the site and in the office to support the successful completion of civil engineering projects such as HS2.” (Image: HS2 Ltd)

To see all of HS2’s current opportunities and to apply, visit hs2.org.uk/careers. Also, if you are looking to start or develop your career in the construction industry, you can meet with representatives from Align and EKFB at the Bucks Skills Show on Wednesday 9 March at Westcott Venture Park.

Uncovering Buckinghamshire’s past

To preserve the rich history along the railway’s route, HS2 is delivering the country’s largest ever archaeology project. Most recently, buildings and artefacts – including over 1,200 coins – have been uncovered at Fleet Marston, near Aylesbury, indicating that a bustling Roman town was based there.

Another exciting find in Buckinghamshire was a rare set of Roman stone statues. The lead archaeologist described the statues, which were discovered on the grounds of a Norman church in Stoke Mandeville, as a “once in a lifetime” find.

A set of rare Roman statues were recently found at a HS2 archaeological dig in Stoke Mandeville (Image: HS2 Ltd)

In July 2021, archaeologists also discovered a remarkably well-preserved carved wooden figure in a water-logged ditch in a field in Twyford. Expert analysis determined that the figure is from the early Roman period. Analysis will continue at all these sites, providing even more fascinating insights into the everyday lives of Bucks residents 2,000 years ago.

Community funding

In addition to the excavation work, HS2’s Community and Environment Fund (CEF) has contributed approximately £7,000 to the Buckinghamshire Archaeological Society. The funds are being used to digitise the society’s printed archive, which will be made freely available to the public.

This is just one of around 60 projects near to the line of route in Buckinghamshire that has successfully applied to either the CEF or HS2’s Business and Local Economy Fund (BLEF) – totalling £3.3 million. Both funds offer grants of up to £250,000 and are managed by Groundwork UK, an independent charity.

Representatives from HS2 Ltd and Holy Trinity Church in Hazlemere mark the venue securing £75,000 from HS2’s Community and Environment Fund to refurbish and extend their building (Image: HS2 Ltd)

Other projects benefiting from CEF and BLEF include the refurbishment of community spaces in Hazlemere and Amersham, the construction of a memorial garden in Chalfont St Peter, and the creation of a new artificial pitch at John Colet School in Wendover. Visit hs2funds.org.uk for more information or to apply.

Stay informed about HS2

HS2 realises that its work will affect residents, which is why there are many ways for people to stay informed and have their voices heard. You can receive regular updates about the project – including notifications of upcoming works, how it’s being constructed and what is being done to make it less disruptive – by signing up at hs2.org.uk/buckinghamshire-and-oxfordshire.

Anyone with queries about the new railway can contact the HS2 Helpdesk all day, every day. Call 08081 434 434 or email: hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk.