The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has joined forces with HS2 to invest in the new dedicated Recruitment Hub in Acton, West London.
The facility, located within Acton Jobcentre Plus, opened its doors to the public today (Tuesday, 30 June) at an event attended by HS2’s Chief Executive, Mark Wild and the DWP’s Director for Jobcentres in London, Michael Morley.
The new drop-in facility will help local people of all ages to access employment and training opportunities on HS2 and other major infrastructure and regeneration projects near to the project’s new superhub station in West London.
Around 30,000 people are currently helping to build Britain’s new railway, which will provide faster, more reliable journeys between London, Birmingham the Northwest and Scotland. To date, over 2,000 people have secured an apprenticeship on the project, and over 5,000 people who were unemployed have received support to help them start a new career.
Around a third of HS2’s current total workforce is based in London, and more new career opportunities will be created as the project progresses.
Mark Wild, Chief Executive of HS2 Ltd said:
“We’re building one the UK’s biggest and best-connected railway stations at Old Oak Common, and that investment has already led to thousands of jobs being created.
“Old Oak Common Station will boost the local economy by £10 billion over the next decade and we’re already seeing the ripple effect. Huge regeneration projects are transforming the area around the station site, and the number of new homes and commercial premises being built is spearheading even more new career opportunities.
“The recruitment hub will create a one-stop shop for local people who want to play a part in shaping this new west London district, whether working directly on HS2, or other major projects that form part of the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation’s Old Oak illustrative masterplan and Places for London’s regeneration plans.”
HS2 forecasts that its civil engineering works will conclude in around four years’ time, ahead of the installation of tracks, signalling, and communications systems. Dynamic testing will then take place, followed by trial operations. This vast programme of work will unleash a breadth of new jobs over the next decade, and HS2 is eager to see local people benefit.
Michael Morley, Director for Jobcentres in London said:
“I am delighted that Acton Jobcentre will become a central hub for employment and skills in this part of London. This new Recruitment Hub brings together DWP, employers, local authority partners, OPDC, Places for London and the National Careers Service in a strong collaborative effort to support people into work.
These opportunities will be invaluable to residents seeking employment, particularly young Londoners who are currently navigating the gap between education, employment and training.
The Hub will also serve as a vital local resource, inspiring people across London to progress into meaningful careers. By providing clear, inclusive pathways and working closely with our partners, we will ensure that our customers have access to the training, upskilling, and timely information they need to achieve the best possible employment outcomes”.
HS2 is driving economic growth across London and research published last year shows that the arrival of HS2 in west London is creating a new development “hotspot” in the capital and driving a £10 billion boost to the local economy. Around Euston station. Camden Council have estimated the regeneration of Euston station, and completion of a HS2 station, can contribute £41bn to the UK economy by 2053. This will translate to new job opportunities across the capital as the development schemes begin to take shape.
Nazia Hashim from East Acton is among the thousands of local people to have secured a job on HS2. She had never considered a career in construction, but after being made redundant during the pandemic, she began to explore new opportunities.
Nazia now works for HS2’s construction partner, Skanska Costain STRABAG joint venture (SCS JV), as an assistant quantity surveyor. She’s responsible for ensuring the team has the skilled workforce it needs to build the network of tunnels that will connect Old Oak Common to Euston Station.
Nazia said:
“Major projects like HS2 provide so many different career pathways. In just a short space of time, I’ve progressed from a role in business administration to becoming a fully qualified quantity surveyor.”
Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC) is leading the regeneration of 650-hectares of land in west London covering parts of Brent, Ealing and Hammersmith & Fulham and including the £10bn Old Oak regeneration scheme around the Old Oak Common station site. OPDC staff will be based at the new recruitment hub in Acton once a month to support job seekers access emerging opportunities.
Matthew Carpen, Chief Executive of OPDC said:
“As the development corporation responsible for leading the regeneration of Old Oak, which will bring up to 11,000 new jobs and over 8,000 homes to the area, OPDC is committed to working with HS2 and our local communities to support people into employment, apprenticeships, and further training opportunities. The hub will place an important role in helping local people to access the fantastic opportunities generated by the major infrastructure and regeneration happening in this area."
For more information about careers on HS2 and other major infrastructure and regeneration projects in West London, visit the HS2 Recruitment Hub inside Acton Jobcentre Plus.
For details of HS2’s latest vacancies, visit hs2.org.uk/careers
