The roadshow team will visit towns and cities from north to south this summer, as part of a bumper programme of community-focused activity highlighting the thousands of jobs, skills, training and new business opportunities that HS2 is creating.
HS2’s roadshow will make three stops in Birmingham and the team is proud to be supporting two of the city’s annual event highlights as part of its tour. The events will allow residents and visitors to find out more about the plans already underway to bring Britain’s new low carbon railway to the second city.
The first stop will be at one of the largest and most diverse festivals in the city - the Simmer Down Festival - which takes place in Handsworth Park on Sunday, 22nd August. The outdoor event, which starts at 12:30 through to 21:00, is a free family fun-day, which celebrates Birmingham’s rich cultural diversity. HS2’s roadshow will centre around a giant cubed-shaped exhibition space, with the events team on hand to advise and support those looking for a new career, training or business opportunity.
The second stop, on Saturday, 4th September, is the Legacy Centre of Excellence in Aston, Europe’s largest independent Black-owned Business and Arts Centre. HS2 will be at the Centre from 12:00 through to 18:00 and will work alongside community representatives to discuss how HS2’s arrival is spearheading regeneration and development projects right across the city. Visitors will be encouraged to get on board with HS2 and find out more about the latest jobs, education, business and training opportunities that the project is creating.
The final stop on the Birmingham leg of the roadshow will be on Saturday, 25th September, when the HS2 team steps out to show its support for one of the city’s busiest and most colourful events – Birmingham Pride.
Building on the success of its attendance in 2019, HS2 will join the Pride parade and engage with local communities to champion the thousands of jobs that its construction partner for the West Midlands region expects to create.
Experts from all areas of the HS2 project will be on hand at each event, armed with a wealth of resources to experience or take away. So, if you’re looking for a new career, or want to find out how your business might benefit from one of 400,000 contract opportunities generated from the first phase of construction works, then head down to one of the roadshow events to find out more.
Tony Weston, Head of Projects and Events at HS2 said:
“We want Britain’s new railway to be designed and built by communities as diverse as those it will serve.
“We have an important role to play in the country’s economic recovery, so it’s more important than ever that people know how to get on board and benefit from the careers, training and new business opportunities that HS2 is creating.
“Our roadshows will allow us to get to the heart of communities and we’re looking forward to sharing information about our plans and letting people know how to keep in touch.”
HS2 has set itself ambitious targets to bring local people and underrepresented groups into employment, whilst simultaneously creating opportunities for small and medium-sized companies in the local area to grow. To help achieve its aim, HS2 is teaming up with Birmingham-based SME Legacy Consultants to bolster its engagement with young people and BAME communities right across the city.
Nathan Dennis, Senior Consultant for Legacy Consultants said:
“HS2 is bringing a whole host of exciting jobs, skills and training opportunities to people across our region.
“We want to make sure that our communities are not only aware of how to access them but are actively encouraged to apply.
“We know that many people in inner-city Birmingham may not have considered a career with HS2 before. Our engagement teams cannot wait to showcase what’s available to them.”
HS2 is already playing an integral role in the Government’s drive to build back better from the pandemic. Over 16,000 people are currently employed in jobs supporting construction of the railway. And as HS2’s journey North begins in earnest, following the green light from Government to extend the railway to Crewe, HS2 will help to level up Britain by spreading prosperity and growth right across the regions.
In early 2022, or sooner if possible, HS2 Ltd will submit a hybrid Bill to parliament seeking powers to extend the HS2 network to Manchester. This will improve connectivity for millions more people in the Midlands and the North – right up to Scotland, creating even more opportunities for local people to secure jobs and for British businesses to win work. It’s estimated that construction of HS2 will support over 30,000 jobs and 400,000 contract opportunities – with small and medium sized enterprises expected to dominate the supply chain.
For more information about HS2’s roadshow programme, visit hs2.org.uk/roadshow-2021
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