A new skills bootcamp designed to fast-track careers in construction has opened its doors at HS2’s Euston site.
Aimed at getting local people ‘job ready’ in just two weeks, the intensive course offers the full training and accreditation needed to start work as a plant machinery operator. The programme is free to Camden residents over the age of 19 and is designed to support those who are either currently out of work or are seeking a career change to gain new skills which will help secure an opportunity in the construction industry.
The training facility is located on Hampstead Road, in the London Borough of Camden, in an area where the new railway will be built, taking trains in and out of Euston. The free course will combine practical training on a range of construction machinery, such as rollers, dump trucks and excavators, with classroom-based learning at the nearby Euston Skills Centre.
The initiative is a collaboration between Flannery Plant Hire, HS2 and its construction partner Skanska Costain STRABAG (SCS), Camden Council, and the Euston Partnership. Funding to deliver the programme, which is due to run until the end of March 2025, has been secured by Flannery from the Department for Education.
Ambrose Quashie, Senior Skills & Inclusion Manager for HS2 Ltd, said:
“We want local people to benefit from HS2, enabling them to access free, high-quality training and to develop transferable skills that will last a lifetime.
“With an extensive construction programme underway and ambitious plans for 2025, we need more skilled people to help us build the new railway. To achieve this, our contractors and supply chain partners are offering a variety of roles with long-term career prospects – this skills bootcamp is a fantastic way to harness these opportunities and to get job ready in record time.”
At the end of the fortnight’s intensive training, successful participants will be offered a guaranteed interview for a plant operator role and will receive a Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS) card for the machine categories they successfully completed the course on. It is anticipated that 30 participants will benefit from the programme, addressing local skills shortages and helping to create a lasting skills legacy.
Cllr. Adam Harrison, Camden Council Cabinet Member for Planning and a Sustainable Camden, said:
“We are committed to ensuring that our residents benefit from the opportunities being created by the construction of HS2, as well as from access to good quality employment. That is why we are working together with HS2 and its construction partners in Euston to offer this fast-track pathway for local people to gain the skills and qualifications needed to secure good jobs in the construction industry and on the HS2 construction site in Euston.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity for anyone looking to start or develop a career in construction, and I encourage residents who are interested to apply and to explore the wide range of training and employment opportunities we have available at our Euston Skills Centre.”
Aaron Davis, Safety and Skills Director for Flannery Plant Hire, said:
“By leveraging our expertise in delivering high-quality, hands-on training, we are equipping participants with the practical skills, confidence, and certifications they need to access meaningful sustainable employment in the construction sector. The bootcamps not only address critical skills shortages in Camden and the surrounding Boroughs but also ensure that local residents are at the forefront of the opportunities created by landmark infrastructure projects like HS2.”
Among the first to take part is local resident Fatima, who said:
“I thoroughly enjoyed the two-week boot camp with Flannery. Not only did I learn how to operate two plant machines, it felt great to be on the HS2 site. I am overwhelmed to have accomplished my ticket for the roller and dumper. Doing the course has enhanced my confidence and knowledge for plant operations. Thank you all for changing my life.”
To register an interest for the programme, visit GoodWork.Camden.gov.uk, call 0207 974 5161, or email escinfo@camden.gov.uk.
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