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HS2 bootcamp to upskill Camden residents for construction jobs

Press release 04/02/2025 09:59 CET

New two week training course launched at Skanska Costain STRABAG JV Euston site to get Camden residents ready for careers in construction

A new skills bootcamp designed to fast-track careers in construction has opened its doors at our Skanska Costain STRABAG JV 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 initiative is a collaboration between HS2, our Skanska Costain STRABAG (SCS) joint venture, supplier Flannery Plant Hire, 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.

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 combines practical training on a range of construction machinery, such as rollers, dump trucks and excavators, with classroom-based learning at our nearby Euston Skills Centre.

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 are offered a guaranteed interview for a plant operator role and receive a Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS) card for the machine categories they successfully complete 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."

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.”

You can find out more on BBC London online