When the first Covid-19 lockdown was announced (23 March 2020) the “stay at home” instruction left Nicola Devenport, a mobile hairdresser from Great Barr, unable to work. With an uncertain future and no income, Nicola took control of her own destiny, and her HS2 journey began.
At 51, hairdressing was all that Nicola had known. She was 13 when she started working as a Saturday girl in Hall Green, sweeping hair and making appointments. Then, at 16, she joined the Youth Training Scheme (YTS) – an on-the-job training programme for school-leavers.
Nicola studied at Solihull college, while learning to master the art of cutting and colour at nearby Cresta Hairdressing. She loved her job and quickly climbed the ladder to become a senior stylist.
When she became a mum, Nicola started a mobile business. She built a loyal client-base in her hometown of Great Barr, and as her daughter grew up, she made the bold decision to open her own salon, which she named after her daughter, Tiffany. “I’ll never forget that day”, said Nicola. “When I opened the salon for the first time, it was just as the song Breakfast at Tiffany’s came out, it was like it was meant to be.”
But after several successful years, Nicola’s landlord wanted the rented premises back. She’d made a mobile business work before, so didn’t hesitate to revert to what she knew. She kept her clients and reduced her overheads. It was all going swimmingly – and then the pandemic hit.
“Everything changed overnight”, recalls Nicola. “I remember it well. I was looking after my grandson, so I hadn’t seen the news, I was watching Fireman Sam! Then, when I drove home, my partner phoned and said ‘Everything’s closing: theatres, restaurants, pubs. We won’t be able to work’”.
Reality hit. Not only was this going to affect Nicola, but her partner too. He was a self-employed plasterer and carpenter. The days that followed were stressful, neither of them qualified for furlough, and it was a dreadful time to start looking for a new job.
Nicola did qualify for Universal Credit but was desperate to work. She jumped at the chance when her DWP Job Coach contacted her about a training programme that could lead to a job. “I’d heard of HS2”, said Nicola. “But I couldn’t imagine how a hairdresser might qualify for a job.”
Days later, Nicola arrived at the Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV) training academy, a partnership venture between HS2’s construction partner and South and City College Birmingham. They had just started delivering fast-track training programmes to help local people start new careers on HS2. The six-week programme included four weeks of theoretical training and two-weeks of site-based training.
“I got more excited as each day went on”, said Nicola. “When I passed the Construction Skills Certificate Scheme, and received my accreditation card, it meant I could start working on site and from that very first day, I absolutely loved it.
“I used to get home at night, and I’d be talking to my partner about health and safety and construction. Of course, him being a carpenter, he just used to laugh, and I think that’s probably what spurred me on.”
As the months passed, Nicola decided it was time to leave hairdressing behind and make a go of her new career. The ever-changing pattern of lockdowns and restrictions left many of her former clients nervous about the idea of letting someone into their home, and she wanted a job with a more certain future.
Despite almost 40 years in hairdressing, Nicola hasn’t looked back. Her hard work has seen her promoted from environmental technician to environmental coordinator, and she’s now a valued member of the BBV team supporting HS2’s construction in the West Midlands.
Nicola said:
“The pandemic was a truly dreadful time, which robbed so many people of so much, but if it hadn’t happened, I certainly wouldn’t be where I am today.
“Back then, I’d have laughed at the idea of wearing bright orange PPE to go to work, and putting a hard hat on over my head, but I wouldn’t change it now.
“HS2 is a fantastic project to work on and I’ve loved watching it take shape over the years. Unlike hairdressing, you can guarantee that every day is different, and that’s probably what I love the most.”
HS2’s main works construction programme began during the pandemic, allowing hundreds of unemployed people to receive training and support to start new careers. Today, 4,824 people who were out of work have gone on to secure employment on the project, and that figure continues to rise.
For information about careers and opportunities on HS2, visit hs2.org.uk/jobs
