The 10 top reasons to work with High Speed Two (HS2)

High Speed Two (HS2) works with its suppliers to build a skilled workforce that supports economic growth across the UK. It has around 1600 employees, mostly based in Birmingham, responsible for planning, design, construction and operation of the HS2 project.

Here are 10 things that make HS2 a great workplace.

1) Health and wellbeing services and benefits

These include an occupational health service, a health and wellbeing kiosk, gym membership, and a Cycle2Work scheme.

2) Mental health initiatives

Mental health problems are experienced by 14.7 percent of the UK’s workforce. HS2 makes it a priority to ensure access to mental health education and resilience programmes.

3) Access and inclusion at HS2

The network explores issues and opportunities to improve the overall organisation. It addresses a range of topics including events to promote HS2 as a disability confident employer. This network is further supported by HS2’s membership with the Business Disability Forum.

4) Financial benefits

HS2 offers an established pension scheme, critical illness cover (including for partners), life insurance, group income protection and flexible benefits.

5) Flexible working

By enabling flexible working, HS2 offers support for working families and employees with caring responsibilities or other commitments.

6) Sustainability and care for local communities

HS2 has committed to planting several million trees along the project for screening and habitat creation. HS2 also takes measures to support and communicate in a meaningful way with the communities it works within.

7) Great employee perks for service

Some of the benefits for HS2 employees are generous annual leave, discount scheme, season ticket loans, and discounted RAC membership.

8) Support for charities

HS2 has a Give As You Earn (GAYE) scheme and supports other charitable giving, for example Jeans for Genes day.

9) Equality and diversity in recruitment

HS2 used pioneering measures from the outset to lessen the impact of bias in recruitment. Its blind audition system increased BAME shortlisting from 13% to 50% and female shortlisting from 17% to 47%.

10) Network groups for inclusion and diversity

HS2’s network groups help give a voice to its diverse and under-represented communities. 

VERCIDA works with employers like HS2 in their quest to be exemplars of equality, diversion and inclusion best practice. We advertise programmes, strategies and networks so jobs candidates can be paired with employers who fit their needs and aptitudes. If you fancy getting on board with HS2, check out current vacancies in our jobs search.