HS2 to offer graduate level jobs to university students

Students from universities across the UK are moving into graduate-level jobs on HS2 aligned to the subjects they studied at university.

12 graduates across 10 universities were offered places in the HS2 's two-year job scheme this week.

Seven of the 12 new recruits opted to leave the towns and cities where they had studied, while the remaining four felt the opportunities HS2 is creating locally provided the best possible start to their careers.

This scheme has also helped the careers of more than 50 former students since its inception in 2016. The Class of 2022 will be split across HS2 's engineering, project management, commercial and IT teams with each new entrant completing rotational placements in their subject area.

HS2 's construction is forecasted to create 34,000 jobs with a programme of works spanning across two decades as the railway extends from London to Manchester through the Midlands.

With over a quarter of the UK 's rail engineers aged over 55 and predicted to retire in the next ten years, investing in future talent is crucial to ensuring the UK has the skills it needs to support the government 's commitment to major infrastructure and transport improvement programmes.

Students joining this year 's programme have graduated from Nottingham, Loughborough, Brunel, City, Birmingham, Coventry, West England. Nottingham Trent, University College London and Queen Mary University of London,

Florence Westwood studied at Nottingham University and wanted to build a career in the transport sector leading on the planning, execution and management of major projects. She now lives in Solihull and will join HS2 's project management team.

Florence said: “Securing a place on HS2 's graduate scheme has put me straight onto the career path I wanted to follow. This is a revolutionary project and I know HS2 offer great training and development opportunities, so I 'm excited for what the future holds. ”

Trepavan Gill from Birmingham studied civil engineering at Coventry University and had long had HS2 in his sights.

Trepavan said: “I applied to join HS2 as I believe this is the best possible start for me to grow and prosper as a civil engineer. The connections, access and opportunities that will open to me are unrivalled. ”

Karen Davis, HS2 's head of talent and development, said: “HS2 is a long-term project on a scale like no other and our investment in training and development is critical to addressing the UK 's skills gap. ”

“Our graduates will work alongside, and be mentored by, some of the very best talent in our industry, giving them the best possible start to their careers. ”

Applications for HS2 's 2023 graduate programme will open in December 2022.

For details of all the latest vacancies and opportunities to work on HS2 visit hs2.org.uk/careers