The workforce on HS2 increased by over 2,000 in the last quarter, bringing the total number of jobs on the project to a record 24,800.
HS2’s most recent reporting figures also show that it has surpassed the 900 new apprentice starts milestone just 20 months after full construction on the first phase of the project began.
HS2 is on track to meet its target of 2,000 apprenticeships, with 923 apprentices now benefiting from career development investment as the project strives to create a talent pool that will drive forward the UK’s major infrastructure projects of the future and leave a lasting skills legacy.
Civils construction is underway at over 300 sites between the West Midlands and London, and a Bill to extend the high-speed network north to Manchester has been submitted to Parliament.
Mark Thurston, CEO at HS2 Ltd said: “2022 is shaping up to be a huge year for HS2. Our expanding workforce reflects the scale of progress we are making.
“With all three phases of the project now in progress, and two decades of construction work still ahead of us, the scale of opportunity for individuals and businesses on HS2 right across the UK continues to grow at pace.”
The supply chain for HS2 expanded further, with 76 new UK businesses receiving contract awards, bringing the total number of unique UK businesses involved in the supply chain to 2,515.
Small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) benefited as well, as they sought stability and new job opportunities in the aftermath of the pandemic, accounting for 61 percent of the supply chain.
This is a fantastic milestone, and the Danny Sullivan Group is extremely proud to supply labour to such a large project. We are excited to watch it grow over the next few years and to see people advance their careers in construction with us.
HS2 has announced its first zero-emissions site.
The Skanska Costain STRABAG joint venture (SCS JV) operates the Canterbury Road Vent Shaft site in South Kilburn, employing a variety of diesel-free technologies and greener equipment.
One of the UK’s first 160 tonne emissions-free fully electric crawler cranes, the use of biofuels (Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil) to power plant and machinery on site, an electric compressor, and access to mains power on a 100 percent renewable energy tariff are among the innovations on the site.
Peter Miller, HS2’s Environment Director said: “We’re delighted to reach this key milestone in our Net Zero Carbon Plan.
“HS2 is playing a major role in the decarbonisation of the construction industry, collaborating with the industry and our supply chain to accelerate innovation in low-carbon technologies.
“Reducing emissions and improving air quality on HS2 construction sites is crucial for both the environment and surrounding communities.”
James Richardson, Managing Director of SCS said: “We’re thrilled that Canterbury Road Vent Shaft has become the first diesel-free site on the HS2 project.
“We’re working hard with our supply chain to introduce renewable energy, green hydrogen and sustainable biofuels to help us remove diesel entirely from our sites by 2023.”
A single app can now verify over two million smart cards used in the construction industry.
The new CSCS Smart Check app makes it simple to check all cards with the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) logo.
There are currently 38 different card schemes that offer CSCS-branded cards, each with their own card checking systems.
Employers will appreciate having a single app to check all physical and virtual cards at site gates.
Mark Reynolds, Construction Leadership Council Skills Sponsor said: “CSCS Smart Check forms part of the industry’s response to the findings of the Dame Judith Hackitt Review. It ensures people are suitably qualified, have the right training and experience for the role they are doing on site.
“Crucially, the information held by cards can be easily accessed by sites of all sizes and used to improve building quality and safety.”
Alan O’Neile, Head of Communications at CSCS said: “Developed by the 38 card schemes displaying the CSCS logo, CSCS Smart Check is a vital tool in certifying the qualifications held by individuals coming onto construction sites and projects in the built environment.
“Over the coming months, the project team will reach out to employers and stakeholders to begin the process of enabling existing card checking systems to become compatible with the new app. All sites are encouraged to migrate to the new app over time.”
CSCS Smart Check will be a stand-alone application at first, incompatible with existing site entry systems like turnstiles and desktop card readers.
Existing card-checking operations will not be impacted immediately, and employers can continue to use these systems if necessary. The app is available for download for free on the Apple iOS and Google Play stores.
The base slab of the HS2 Victoria Road ancillary shaft in Acton has been completed by the Skanska Costain STRABAG joint venture (SCS JV).
In February 2021, the team began permanent work at the site by pouring a 160m3 concrete collar around the ancillary shaft.
They then used precast concrete segments produced by FP McCann Ltd to construct the first 11 metres of the 25-meter internal diameter shaft, before using the sprayed concrete lining technique to complete the remaining 19 metres.
The shaft was completed with a 3.3m thick base slab constructed in three different pours by a team of around 30 engineers and operatives.
The main pour of approximately 1,000 m3 of concrete took place at the end of 2021, with the second and third pours completed by the end of January 2022, totaling another 740 m3.
The site will serve as critical infrastructure for the HS2 project. SCS JV is also building a crossover box on the site, which will allow trains to switch tracks on their way in and out of Old Oak Common station, in addition to the 25m internal diameter shaft that will provide ventilation and emergency access to the Northolt Tunnels.
HS2’s Project Client, Malcolm Codling said: “The team at Victoria Road have made huge strides, completing the base slab of the ancillary shaft, and preparing the site for the launch of two tunnel boring machines. As we move into the next phase of work. It won’t be long until we begin to see where the railway will run through the site, taking it from our detailed construction plans to reality.”
Skanska Costain STRABAG Joint Venture’s Managing Director, James Richardson added: “We’re constructing eight ventilation shafts along our 13 miles of twin bore tunnels in London and this vent shaft is the first to advance to this stage.
“Work is progressing well at all our other shaft sites so that they are ready for the tunnel boring machines to travel through them as our huge tunnelling programme progresses over the next three years.”
The construction site on Victoria Road also plays an important role.
It will be used by the SCS JV to assemble and launch two tunnel boring machines (TBMs) to dig the 3.4-mile eastern section of the Northolt tunnels. The TBMs are expected to arrive in early 2023, and the 12-month tunnelling project will begin later that year.
A conveyor system will connect the site to the Logistics Hub at the Willesden Euroterminal, which will remove spoil excavated for the tunnels.
The conveyor system, which also connects the Logistics Hub to the Old Oak Common station site, is expected to go live later this year and will help HS2 reduce lorry movements by around 1 million lorries.
The Danny Sullivan Group are proud to be associated with such a major project. and being able to witness the amazing work that is carried out every day.
Under the Chilterns, two massive 2,000-tonne tunnelling machines have reached their first milestone in digging the HS2 project’s longest tunnels.This is a wonderful milestone and Danny Sullivan Group is proud to be providing labour for the HS2 Project.
The 78m deep ventilation shaft at Chalfont St Peter is the first of five that will provide ventilation and emergency access to the ten-mile-long twin tunnels. TBMs Florence and Cecilia dug a total of over 3.6 miles together.
The TBMs, which began operating in May and June of last year, are expected to reach the north portal in two and a half years.
A crew of 17 people on board each machine, operated by Align – a Bouygues, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick JV, keeps them running, working in shifts and supported by over 100 people on the surface.
Align Project Director, Daniel Altier, said: “Florence and Cecilia reaching our first shaft at Chalfont St Peter is a great achievement for not only the tunnelling team but also construction team involved in excavating and preparing the shaft.
“In particular I would like to pay credit to KVJV and Keltbray our supply chain partners, who have been working tirelessly over the last few months to ensure the shaft is ready for the arrival of Florence and Cecilia.”
The HS2 project will use ten TBMs to build 64 miles of tunnel between London and the West Midlands, including major tunnels on the approach to London and Birmingham. So far, three machines have been launched.
Six specialist labor-only subcontractors have been awarded contracts by EKFB, a joint venture between Eiffage, Kier, Ferrovial Construction, and BAM Nuttall, to support employment requirements for the next four years.
Between now and 2024, EKFB, as one of HS2’s main construction partners, will need 2,500 skilled operatives to build an 80-kilometer section of the new high-speed rail link between the Chiltern Tunnel and Long Itchington Wood.
Local people, underrepresented groups, and new entrants to the industry will be prioritised by EKFB and labour providers, with apprentices accounting for 4% of the EKFB workforce. EKFB and the six labour providers have formed a partnership and established the ‘Labour Desk,’ which will handle all EKFB resource requests. Carmichael, Reliable Contactors, VGC, Danny Sullivan Group, Venesky-Brown, and McGinley are the six labour providers. These subcontractors were chosen after a thorough tender process that included a novel behavioural assessment between the tenderers and EKFB.
EKFB Labour Manager, Philip Manning, who is responsible for managing the labour requirements, commented: “Together, EKFB and its agencies are committed to ensuring supply of blue-collar labour on EKFB projects is delivered effectively and is managed on time and on budget. We will work collaboratively to ensure all labour providers have an equal opportunity to supply workers to the project, share best practise and maintain compliance with industry legislation.
“By taking a ‘best for project’ decision-making approach, EKFB and its labour suppliers will collaborate to proactively resource the project, lead by example and drive industry best practice.”
The ‘Labour Desk’s’ goals are to assist in the delivery of the EKFB JV project by managing the supply of qualified operatives and assisting in the project’s legacy for the local communities. By providing long-term employment opportunities, EKFB and its chosen providers aim to improve people’s lives, communities, and the construction industry.
Rolls-Royce and Porterbrook are collaborating to find and develop technology breakthroughs that will reduce carbon emissions and enhance air quality across the rail network. The two businesses have signed a memorandum of understanding to look into the use of synthetic and net zero fuels, such as hydrogen, in both fuel cells and internal combustion engines. The two businesses will investigate the possibility for enhanced hybridisation, building on their recent success in jointly delivering hybrid battery-diesel railcars into passenger service.
The link also takes into account the role of the broader rail ecosystem in decarbonisation, such as fuel supply chains, infrastructure, and operating models that can help with innovation and the transition to net zero emissions.
The railway sector in the UK emits about 1% of total domestic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions*, and the government’s goal is to phase out all diesel-only trains – both passenger and freight – by 2040 and create a net zero rail network by 2050. Alternative kinds of power, such as hydrogen, fuel cells, batteries, hybrid-electric vehicles, and sustainable fuels, have been recognised by the UK government as possible paths to this goal.
Warren East, CEO, Rolls-Royce, said:
“We have extensive experience of rail technology and are able to draw upon expertise from across our business in new net zero and zero emissions technologies for safety critical applications. We are committed to helping our customers make the transition to net zero by enabling them to use our current and future products in a way that is compatible with emissions reduction, and this relationship with Porterbrook will help us further understand the options for decarbonising rail transport. For us, playing a leading role in enabling the energy transition is both a societal imperative and a very significant commercial opportunity.”
Mary Grant, CEO, Porterbrook, said:
“We have been at the forefront of developing alternative traction systems for rolling stock over recent years, through our innovations and long-term asset management approach. Our partnership with Rolls-Royce will mean that we continue to lead the UK’s rail sector in sustainable solutions, by leveraging expertise across industries on the pathway to net zero.”
With its mtu-branded engines in service across five continents, Rolls Royce’s Power Systems business has decades of experience in providing rail drive solutions. The company has been working on new environmentally friendly solutions, such as the hybrid-electric mtu. Hybrid PowerPack for use on the rails. Chiltern Railways’ HybridFLEX trains, which are supplied by Porterbrook, have recently entered commercial service in the UK, reducing CO2 emissions by up to 25%. Power Systems is already working on a range of hydrogen-fueled engines for power generation, as well as fuel cells that produce electricity for use as a reliable power source in ships and heavy-duty off-highway vehicles.
Last year, Power Systems announced that by 2023, it would release new generations of its most popular diesel engines for use with sustainable fuels, including the mtu Series 4000 engines, which are currently used in locomotives operating in Siberia and the Australian outback. It plans to offer conversion kits for mtu Series 4000 engines starting next year, allowing them to run on 100 percent hydrogen.
Porterbrook owns nearly a quarter of the national passenger rail fleet and has around 4,000 vehicles on lease or on order at any given time. The company is known for delivering cutting-edge technology like battery, hybrid, and hydrogen-powered trains. The company also developed HydroFLEX, the first hydrogen-powered train to run on the UK’s mainline network, in addition to the HybridFLEX and other hybrid trains in commercial service. It is the world’s first ‘tri-mode’ train because it can run on electric, battery, and hydrogen power. Porterbrook was recently named Transport Sector Leader in the annual Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB) assessment, which compares the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance of real estate and infrastructure organisations around the world. (Porterbrook.co.uk)
Danny Sullivan Group are proud to have over 30 years’ experience working in the rail industry on some of the UK’s largest projects. To register for opportunities of a great career in construction with us, visit https://www.dannysullivan.co.uk/jobs/job-registration/
Highways England will aim for carbon neutral building as a ‘pathfinder’ initiative.
To find, test, and scale-up novel ways of creating and maintaining low-carbon infrastructure, the roads agency plans to enlist a wide spectrum of partners, from major engineering firms to small enterprises and institutions.
New options being investigated include eliminating diesel from its sites in favour of hydrogen and electric power, as well as exploring alternatives to carbon-intensive materials like concrete and steel, after which the initiative will look into carbon offsetting to handle any remaining emissions.
These plans will be shared with the supply chain and the rest of the industry so that they can be utilised on this or any other infrastructure project, potentially making the project a catalyst for change in the industry.
Roads Minister Baroness Vere said: “Exploring carbon neutral construction is crucial to our efforts to decarbonise our transport network and Build Back Greener from the pandemic.
“I hope this groundbreaking proposal will pave the way for other innovative, green solutions to roadbuilding in the future.”
Matt Palmer, Executive Director for the Lower Thames Crossing said: “Our roads play a critical role in keeping people and the country’s economy moving, now and long into our low-carbon future.
“We want to make the Lower Thames Crossing the greenest road ever built in the UK, and as a pathfinder project we will push the boundaries in construction and show how we and other large infrastructure projects can help the UK reach net zero.”
National Highways intends to apply for a Development Consent Order for the new crossing later this year, after holding another round of public consultation on revised plans.
The Danny Sullivan Group has committed to achieve Net Zero Carbon by 2030, read more about our carbon and sustainability strategy on our How page under Sustainability.
The winners from our weekly individual HQ Step Challenge were Holly Keenan, Fergal Maunsell, Jessica Forristal and Tim O Sullivan! Pictured here, they are being presented with their awards by Social Value Manager Kate Marsh, HSEQ Tim Jackson, and Social Value & Marketing Assistant Georgia Holden Clarke. Well done to everyone who got involved and took the opportunity to be more active throughout the month!☘️
Thank you to everyone on site who got involved and took part in our DSG Wellness Month Step Challenge! Being presented with their awards by Labour Manager Fergal Maunsell and HSW Manager Ruairí Coffey the winners from our weekly site step challenge were Gurjit Singh,Roberto Rondina and Victor Catalin. Well done to all who participated!☘️
