HS2 and its construction partner, Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV) have been running an initiative to help unemployed and under-represented groups gain employment.

HS2 and Balfour Beatty VINCI have also partnered with BuildForce, an industry-led programme that helps ex-Armed Forces personnel find long-term employment within the construction sector. Because of their varied career service, ex-Armed Forces personnel are ideal. Since 2021, BuildForce has placed over 100 people into new careers on HS2, around 60% of those with Balfour Beatty VINCI.

One of those recruited is Maggie McCann, aged 35 from Lincolnshire, HS2’s first female former services recruit through its partnership with the BuildForce. She recently joined HS2 as a consents manager, securing environmental and planning consents needed to build HS2.

After leaving school, Maggie wanted to be a pilot and secured a university bursary with the RAF to study Aeronautical Engineering and graduated with a first-class degree from Loughborough University. Finding she didn’t meet the medical standards to be a pilot, she transferred to an engineering officer role at RAF Marham, maintaining Tornado aircraft.

Thirteen years later, Maggie decided it was time for change but had no idea how to apply her skill set outside the RAF. Following a phone call to BuildForce she had a mentoring session with its chief executive discussing her skills, experience, and career aspirations. That meeting was the turning point in her career.

BBV in partnership with BuildForce will host a dedicated open day for ex-services personnel at its construction site in Kingsbury, Warwickshire on Thursday, 27th March, and Maggie will take to the stage to discuss her transition from the military to civvy street.

On 27th March Balfour Beatty VINCI is holding a project day where Maggie McCann will talk about her transition from military to civvy life, where ex-service personnel looking for employment and have an interest in working on HS2 are encouraged to attend. Further information is on the BuildForce website, or register for the event online here.

This year, HS2 is looking for 30 new graduates to join its workforce, and also provides paid placements for undergraduates during the summer holidays.

Andrew Bellingall, Senior Project Manager at Balfour Beatty VINCI said “Maggie brings a tremendous amount of experience and transferable skills from her time in the RAF, which is already benefiting the wider team. Like Maggie, I also transitioned from a rewarding career in the Armed Forces to an equally rewarding career in construction. I’d encourage other service leavers thinking about taking the next step in their career to join BBV and be part of the biggest infrastructure project in the UK.”