HS2 Highlights Student Talent in Infrastructure

High-speed rail developer HS2 Ltd and its construction partner Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV) are continuing to invest in future infrastructure talent through a paid summer placement programme for university students. Now in its fourth year, the eight-week initiative gives undergraduates hands-on experience across a wide range of disciplines, including engineering, digital technologies, procurement and environmental management. The programme aims to bridge academic study and practical application on one of Europe’s largest infrastructure projects.

Participants are selected from universities in central England and are assigned roles that align with their chosen fields of study. HS2 Ltd reports that many previous placement students have gone on to secure graduate roles, apprenticeships or permanent positions with the contractor, demonstrating the programme’s role in supporting workforce development in the infrastructure sector. The initiative also contributes to a growing employment base linked to the high-speed rail project, which currently supports over 33,000 jobs.

Julie Venn-Morton, HS2’s Senior Skills & Inclusion Manager, said the programme allows students “to hone their skills and make a valuable contribution” to the construction of the high-speed railway, which will connect major urban centres and free up capacity on existing lines.

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