HS2 Welcomes New Welding Apprentices with Support from AA Euro Group
HS2 has welcomed a new cohort of 10 welding operative apprentices to its high-speed rail programme, marking another important step in developing the next generation of skilled welders for one of the UK’s largest infrastructure projects.
The apprentices will join teams delivering the Curzon Approaches – the series of viaducts leading into HS2’s Curzon Street Station in Birmingham. The programme has been developed through a partnership between HS2’s construction partner, Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV), and its supply chain partners, including AA Euro Group and Martifer, to help tackle the shortage of qualified welders across the UK.
Following a recruitment process focused on supporting local jobseekers, the successful candidates completed a paid work trial before securing a Level 2 Welding Operative Apprenticeship. They’ll now combine classroom learning with hands-on experience on site, working alongside experienced teams as they earn an industry-recognised qualification.
For AA Euro Group, being part of this initiative is another opportunity to support skills development while helping deliver Britain’s new high-speed railway and the UK’s largest infrastructure project.
HS2 has also announced that more than 5,700 people who were previously unemployed have now found work on the project, highlighting the positive impact it’s continuing to have on local communities and the wider construction industry.
As stated by Julie Venn Morton, HS2’s Senior Skills and Inclusion Manager for the West Midlands, “5,771 unemployed people have already secured work on HS2, and I’m delighted we’ve been able to build on that with these 10 new roles. Welding is a skill for life, and I’m confident our new starters will have a promising career ahead of them.”
Kam Hundal, Skills, Employment and Education Business Partner at Balfour Beatty VINCI, added; “There is a critical shortage of welding skills in the UK, so we’ve joined forces with Martifer and AA Euro Group in our supply chain to create 10 exciting welding apprenticeships for local people.
“These crucial new roles are a huge boost for the HS2 project and the wider construction industry. This group will receive training in the classroom and out on site while helping to deliver the iconic viaducts that will take high-speed trains in and out of Birmingham city centre.”
AA Euro Group has been delighted to support this initiative alongside Balfour Beatty VINCI and the wider project team. Working on HS2 gives these apprentices the chance to learn in a first-class environment, surrounded by experienced teams and working to the highest standards of quality, safety and workmanship.
Being part of a major infrastructure project like HS2 is a fantastic opportunity for anyone starting out in welding. The skills and experience they gain will not only support the delivery of this landmark project but will also be a great addition to their portfolio as they continue to build their careers. We’re proud to be involved in helping the next generation of skilled welders take their first steps in the industry.
Around 10,000 people are already helping to build HS2 in the West Midlands, representing almost a third of the entire workforce delivering the project. To date, 870 people from the region have secured apprenticeships, while 2,214 local residents who were previously unemployed have progressed into new careers.
HS2 Ltd has achieved both its employment and skills targets, originally setting out to create 2,000 apprenticeships and support 5,000 unemployed people into work. The project continues to focus on creating opportunities for people along the route, ensuring local communities benefit from the training, skills and career pathways being created.
For new apprentice Tyler Moore, the opportunity has already provided a chance to take his career in a new direction.
Tyler, 21, from Walsall, discovered the apprenticeship opportunity after attending a careers fair at Walsall Art Gallery. After completing his A-Levels and starting out in an office-based role, he decided to explore a career in a more hands-on environment.
After completing my A-Levels, I went straight into an office job, but I quickly discovered this wasn’t the right career path for me. I’m so glad I decided to make this change. Now, I’m a welding apprentice working on the HS2 project and I’m loving every minute. Being able to see the physical progress of the works and know that I’m playing a part in delivering something so significant is extremely rewarding.
Find out more about AA Euro Group’s Labour Services and Workforce Management Solutions and how we support projects with the right people, at the right time.