Women in the West Midlands are being encouraged to embark on a career in the construction industry to help deliver the HS2 railway project, according to Infrastructure Intelligence.
Major construction on HS2 is set to begin later this year, with 30,000 jobs created in designing and delivering the scheme in a bid to ensure that local people, under-represented and disadvantaged groups, including women, are a key focus.
To make this happen, the Routes into Construction for Women programme has been designed in partnership with Women into Construction, HS2 Ltd, South and City College, West Midlands Combined Authority and Birmingham City Council.
The course involves a two-week employability course, including the opportunity for applicants to gain their CSCS card, followed by a four-week work experience placement at one of a number of HS2’s supply chain companies, in addition to opportunities for placements at HS2 Ltd.
Work experience placements will be offered in ecology, civil engineering, design and archaeology with West Midlands based companies including LMJV, BBV, WSP, Eiffage Kier and Fusion.
The initial plan for HS2 is for a new railway line between London and the West Midlands carrying 400m-long (1,300ft) trains with as many as 1,100 seats per train, which would operate at speeds of up to 250mph.
