Following last week’s announcement covering the award of £6.6bn of HS2 construction contracts, Caterpillar equipment dealer, Finning UK and Ireland has confirmed plans to increase its investment in apprenticeships and training.
The business will now be releasing additional apprenticeship places in a special recruitment drive, planned in two phases for September starts and the end of the year, introducing new apprenticeships in HR, Finance and Commercial roles, whilst boosting its ongoing engineering programme.
Commenting on the move, Finning Managing Director, Kevin Parkes said: “HS2 represents the biggest project the UK has seen for decades. With the letting of the construction packages we have pushed the button on further investment in skills and our ambitions for the growth and scope of our apprentice programme.
“We will now be spending the coming months working with the industry and those businesses that have been awarded the contracts, to ensure we create the right roles that can make a positive contribution to the project’s employment and skills development opportunities. Our first recruits will be for brand new Supply Chain and Commercial Apprenticeships and we are pleased to confirm that these roles will now be required for September starters.
“The announcement of our special apprentice recruitment drive is just the start of the additional resources we will be investing in to support this project. So whether it is operator training, engineering support or the ability to introduce the latest in machine and drone technology to the project, the Finning team will be on hand to make HS2 the most productive and efficient project of its kind.”