The University of Dundee in conjunction with Experian and CITB have conducted some research into HS2 that should be welcome news to the construction industry.


The research concludes that the High Speed 2 project will require around 5,000 construction workers each month in the first and second phase of construction (of a total workforce of 11,580).


According to figures released through Construction News, average number of construction workers required during the first and second phase of development is 4,980, with 1,015 construction designers and 735 construction managers per month, with a peak number of construction operatives being needed anticipated to be 22,672, much larger than Crossrail which had 14,000 workers at its peak.


The construction workers required in these roles will need to have certain highly technical skills whilst there will be requirements for more traditional skill sets as well. The data suggests there will be a requirement for 781 electricians, 327 plant operative, 261 bricklayers and 110 scaffolders each month during phase one and two of the construction of HS2.


Some of the skills HS2 will require are skills which are already in short supply, however the demand for the skills should further stimulate the market, making trades in construction more desirable options when reviewing future job opportunities both of those trying to get into industry and those who left the construction industry following the recession.

 

To help meet the demands of this labour force, HS2 has already announced they are opening a college in Birmingham (near their Construction Headquarters), which won’t just be about getting new entrants into the industry with estimates that 50% of HS2’s workforce will need upskilling to the relevant technical NVQ levels.

 

The aim of the college is to work with tier one and tier two contractors down to smaller businesses to help benefit SMEs in the same way Crossrail was able to have a positive impact on those businesses.

 

And the jobs directly related to the construction of HS2 will have a trickledown effect with many of the construction elements being created offsite around the UK, with these kind of opportunities for our industry, we should all become advocates for HS2.