Initiative will formally open next month

HS2 has launched its graduate recruitment scheme for 2021 with plans to recruit 17 new graduates to work on the £100bn railway.

People who win a place on the two-year programme will join teams working on new stations, tunnels and viaducts on the 140-mile route between London and Birmingham.

HS2 worker 211220

Graduates will be offered a series of roles on the initiative

An extra eight graduates will be recruited for this year’s scheme, following 2020’s graduate training programme which saw 1,000 applicants compete to win just nine places on the project.

HS2 said the roles will be offered at various locations along the route, with placements based in the offices of HS2 Ltd and main works construction partners.

The railway’s four main contractors are CSJV, a JV between Costain and Skanska, BBVJV, a JV between Balfour Beatty and Vinci, EKJV, a JV between Eiffage and Kier and SCSJV, a JV between Strabag, Costain and Skanska.

Roles will be created in project management, engineering, landscape architecture, commercial and communications, with graduates promised at least four placement rotations whilst on their programmes.

HS2’s future talent manager Karen Davis said: “[2020 was] an incredibly difficult year for young people and we’re doing everything we can to support their career journeys.”

The programme will open next month with HS2 urging students to get their applications in as soon as possible.