HS2 launches new apprenticeship pathway for the unemployed
HS2 is launching a new fast-track training programme to help unemployed West Midlands residents secure a construction apprenticeship on Britain’s new railway. The programme is being led by HS2’s West Midlands construction partners, Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV) – who are delivering the 90km section of the railway between Warwickshire, Birmingham and Staffordshire, and Mace Dragados – who are building Curzon Street Station. The new initiative builds on the success of BBV’s well established routes into employment programmes. In the West Midlands, 2,273 unemployed local residents have already secured a job on HS2 and 885 have started an apprenticeship. Now, for the first time, the two joint ventures are teaming up to deliver a new six-week general operatives training programme, which will equip participants with the skills and health and safety accreditation they need to start working in construction. Candidates who successfully complete the six-week course, and want to progress their career in construction, will automatically qualify for an interview for an 18-month apprenticeship. Julie Venn Morton, HS2 Ltd’s Senior Skills and Inclusion Manager for the region said: “We work exceptionally hard to ensure that local residents benefit from career opportunities on HS2, and it’s great to see our construction partners working together to create more new entry-level jobs for local people. “A project the size and scale of HS2 offers a unique opportunity to upskill the next generation and we’re proud of our achievements to date, with over 2,000 people starting an apprenticeship and over 5,700 unemployed people starting new careers on the programme.” The six-week general operatives training programme will be delivered at South and City College’s Bordesley Green campus and starts on 28 September. Eight successful candidates will go on to secure an 18-month Level 2 apprenticeship, where they will join the teams delivering the city’s new flagship terminus station. Beatriz Ramos Albert, Communications, Skills & Social Value Lead at Mace Dragados said: “Collaboration is essential to maximising the social value we create through HS2, and this programme is a great example of what can be achieved when partners come together with a shared ambition. We are delighted to be partnering with Balfour Beatty VINCI and are grateful for the expertise and best practice they are bringing to this programme. “As construction of Curzon Street Station progresses, we continue to create opportunities across our city centre project and supply chain, and initiatives like this help to ensure those opportunities are accessible to local residents”. Four candidates will progress onto a Level 2 apprenticeship with BBV, where they will join the teams constructing the railway as it travels through Solihull and Warwickshire. Kam Hundal, Balfour Beatty VINCI’s Skills, Employment and Education Business Partner said: “We’re creating more new apprenticeship opportunities for local people who are currently out of work, as part of our on-going commitment to leave a lasting skills legacy in the West Midlands. “Candidates who successfully complete a six-week training programme are guaranteed an interview for these entry-level roles. Along the way, we’ll equip them with the skills and health and safety accreditation they need to start working in construction.” West Midlands residents who are interested in joining the programme should register their interest with their local Jobcentre Plus. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Where Performance Meets Practice: The Building Envelope Stage at UKCW Birmingham
From Passivhaus to working at height; roofing to insulation; fire safety to solar integration, the new Building Envelope Stage at UK Construction Week Birmingham will offer visitors a practical and technical focus on the systems and materials that determine a building’s performance, safety, durability and energy efficiency. Bringing together contractors, manufacturers, specifiers and installers, the programme will explore the latest developments in roofing, cladding, insulation, facades and waterproofing, alongside key issues such as fire safety, regulation, retrofit and net zero delivery. Partnering with organisations such as the National Retrofit Hub and NFRC, topics covered on the Building Envelope Stage will include: Passivhaus at Scale: Why Major Housebuilders Are Embracing Higher Performance Standards; Healthy Homes: Building Fabric, Ventilation and Occupant Wellbeing; and Roofing for Net Zero: Design, Performance and Whole-Life Value. Stage highlights include: Tuesday 29th September 12.30pm – 1.15pmHealthy Homes: What Really Makes a Building Good for People?Demonstrating best practice, the session will provide evidence-based guidance on delivering homes that are not only energy efficient, but demonstrably better for occupant health and wellbeing.Speakers: Dr Anastasia Mylona (CIBSE), Jade Lewis (Healthy Homes & Buildings Group), Mark Allen (Fortem), Olga Turner Baker (Ekkist) 1.30pm – 2.15pmThe Retrofit Reset: Beyond Grants to Long Term DeliveryGovernment grants have played an important role in kickstarting retrofit, but they won’t deliver the scale or pace of home upgrades the UK needs on their own. What comes next? How do we move beyond short-term funding towards a stable, long-term retrofit market that gives homeowners, landlords, local authorities and industry the confidence to invest?Speakers: Carl Bairstow (Efficiency North), Rachael Owens (National Retrofit Hub), Sarah Louise Fletcher (Leeds Beckett University) Wednesday 30th September 2.30pm – 3.15pmRight First Time: The Future of Membrane SuitabilityApproved Document B, Awaab’s Law and the Future Homes Standard are converging on the roof. As fire safety rules tighten, repair timeframes shorten, and solar PV goes mainstream, membrane suitability is a critical compliance consideration. This panel cuts through the noise to ask what “suitable” will mean going forward, and how the sector can get it ‘right first time’.Speakers: Adrian Howe (Stormforce Roofing), Matthew Sexton (BMI UK & Ireland), Thomas Marshall (Don & Low Ltd) 3.30pm-4.15pmBeyond Sedum: The Next Generation of Green RoofsThis session will explore the technical and practical considerations of designing, specifying and maintaining roofs that respond to local vernaculars, support Biodiversity Net Gain objectives and function as genuine nature-based solutions rather than compliance measures.Speakers: Chris Bridgman (Bridgman & Bridgman and Chair, Green Roof Organisation (GRO), Vice President, European Federation of Green Roof and Wall Associations and Founder, World Green Roof Day), Keith Hills (Eco Green Group), Luke Rootham (Axter Ltd), Maggie Fennel Wells (The Environment Partnership (TEP) Ltd) Thursday 1st October 10.30am – 11.15amSolar, Storage and Heat Pumps: What New Build and Retrofit Mean for Your BusinessThis session will explore how the Future Homes Standard and the Warm Homes Plan are shaping demand for solar PV, battery storage and heat pumps, and what businesses need to do now to prepare.Speakers: Jason Howlett (Energy Storage Association), Neil Evans (GoodWe), Nigel Banks (Octopus Energy) 12.30pm – 1.15pmNet Zero Transition Planning: Turning Construction Ambition into ActionThis presentation will explore how organisations can build robust transition plans, align with the emerging ISO Net Zero Standard, and integrate carbon reduction into business planning, procurement and project delivery.Speaker: Lucie Shackley (Carbon Trust) Martin Hurn, UKCW Birmingham Editorial Director, commented: ““The Building Envelope Stage reflects a shift we’re seeing across the industry: performance is no longer an abstract ambition, it’s a practical discipline. By bringing contractors, manufacturers, specifiers and installers together, we’re creating a space where real world challenges meet real world solutions. This is where innovation becomes practice, and where the sector moves forward together.” Sponsored by Barbour ABI, Zutec, Wyre, HotelPlanner and Build Warranty, UKCW Birmingham will feature over 250 leading brands; 200 speakers and over 150 hours of CPD accredited seminars across four stages, alongside a series of built-for-purpose sections. Architect, TV presenter and UKCW ambassador, George Clarke will officially open the show and also host the Main Stage discussions on Day One (September 29th). To find out more and to register free for UKCW Birmingham, visit https://register.visitcloud.com/survey/0hcnqiudc1lrv?actioncode=1000 Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Lovell delivers industry leading social value as £14m generated at key partnerships site
TELFORD’S major mixed tenure development Wild Walk has been completed, bringing hundreds of much-needed homes and pouring more than £14m into the local supply chain. The scheme of 329 homes – including open market, affordable rent, accessible and care home plots – has been built as part of a multi-generational development. The aim is to deliver legacy housing that makes a difference, addressing local and national housing targets as well as providing more high quality, efficient home options for local people. As part of the completion, a social value report for Wild Walk has been produced, highlighting the scope of the project impact on the wider community. A testament to the successful partnership between national housebuilder Lovell, Telford & Wrekin Council and Housing Plus Group, the project created 17 jobs for local people, with more than £14 million spent in the local supply chain and 75% of subcontractors employed within 30 miles of the site. Stuart Penn, regional partnerships director at Lovell, said: “Our commitment to social value is solid, whether that be through apprenticeships, work experience placements and training, or organising engagement events with the local schools, we understand the impact of making these efforts. For us, it’s not just a tick box it’s about integrating into the communities in which we build and leaving a lasting legacy. “We have compiled a comprehensive report detailing these efforts on this site, which once again shows that we are holding ourselves accountable and are actively looking to continue these efforts across all our developments.” Alongside prioritising local employment, existing residents have also been front of mind with roughly £58,000 donated to local causes. This included a £2,500 contribution and renovation of the local play area, transforming it into a safer and more inviting spot for children and families to enjoy. Councillor Nathan England, Telford & Wrekin Council’s Cabinet Member for Safer Streets and Better Housing, said: “Wild Walk has delivered high-quality homes for local people, but the true measure of its success is the lasting positive impact it has had on the wider community. “The scheme has supported local businesses, created employment and training opportunities, invested in community projects and delivered environmental benefits. It demonstrates how housing developments can help strengthen communities and leave a positive legacy long after construction has been completed.” As well as social value, sustainability was prioritised from design concept and throughout construction. During the build, 98% of waste was diverted from landfill – far ahead of the 2023 national average of 87%. The homes are also built with energy efficiency in mind with solar panels and electric vehicle charging points, combined with enhanced insulation for reduced running costs. Stuart added: “Wild Walk is a true showcase of what can be achieved when partners share a vision – sustainable homes, meaningful investment in people and a community built to last. The variety of housing types at the site more than meets resident needs and can provide accommodation for all walks of life. “We’re proud of the legacy this project leaves for Telford and this foundation will continue to serve as the basis for other developments across the region.” To find out more, visit the Lovell website. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Landsec Wins Approval to Restart £1bn North London Regeneration
Landsec has secured planning approval for a major reset of its £1 billion O2 Centre regeneration in North London, unlocking revised plans for up to 1,800 homes alongside new retail, workspace, leisure and public spaces. Camden Council has approved changes to the 14-acre Finchley Road masterplan after the original proposals stalled amid rising construction costs, viability pressures and new building safety requirements. The revised approach will allow Landsec to increase the height of several buildings and reduce the proportion of affordable housing, with the changes intended to make the substantial mixed-use development deliverable. Affordable housing across the masterplan will fall from the previously planned 35% to 20%, reflecting emergency measures introduced by the Government and Mayor of London to help unlock stalled residential developments. Despite the changes, the overall ambition remains to deliver up to 1,800 homes while transforming an underused site into a new neighbourhood incorporating shops, workplaces, leisure facilities, community amenities and extensive public realm. The first phase, which has secured detailed planning permission as part of the hybrid application, will provide 651 homes. Additional floors have been introduced to several blocks, with some of the buildings now expected to rise to around 17 storeys. The redesigned scheme also incorporates changes required to respond to updated building safety regulations, which have become an increasingly important factor in the design, viability and delivery of higher-rise residential projects. More than half of the wider development site is planned as publicly accessible space, with new landscaped areas, green spaces and improved walking and cycling connections between Finchley Road and West Hampstead. Landsec has also committed £10 million towards providing step-free access at West Hampstead Underground station, supporting wider improvements to connectivity around the new neighbourhood. GRID Architects and Heatherwick Studio have worked on the revised designs. The wider professional team includes AtkinsRéalis as cost consultant, Pell Frischmann providing civil and structural consultancy and Buro Happold responsible for MEP consultancy. Mike Hood, CEO of Landsec, said: “Camden Council gave us a clear mandate in 2023 to transform this isolated, underused land into a mixed-use neighbourhood with new homes, public space and community facilities. “The economic reality has shifted since then and that’s why we’re updating the first phase of the masterplan. “Our changes, which respond to emergency measures from the Government and Mayor of London, would enable delivery and protect the many public benefits that the scheme can deliver. Our vision for a greener, healthier and better connected neighbourhood remains the same.” The regeneration is expected to be delivered across three phases over approximately 10 to 15 years, representing one of the most significant long-term residential and mixed-use development projects in this part of London. The existing O2 shopping and leisure centre will continue operating through the earlier stages of the redevelopment before being demolished as part of the final phase. With the revised plans now approved, Landsec has cleared an important hurdle in bringing the stalled project back towards delivery, while retaining the wider vision of creating a greener, better-connected mixed-use neighbourhood around Finchley Road and West Hampstead. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
GRAHAM Starts £50m Transformation of RAAC-Hit Basingstoke School
GRAHAM has signed the contract for a £50 million redevelopment of Cranbourne Secondary School in Basingstoke, paving the way for a major overhaul of the existing campus and the replacement of buildings affected by reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC). The project will see seven existing buildings replaced by a new 10,000 sq m school at the current Wessex Close site, creating modern teaching, specialist learning and sports facilities for pupils and the wider school community. Early works began during the summer, with foundation construction scheduled to get underway in the autumn as the main programme gathers pace. The new school will comprise interconnected two and three-storey accommodation, bringing facilities that are currently spread across the 6.8-hectare campus together within a more consolidated and efficient building. A significant range of specialist teaching spaces will be provided, including facilities for music, art, design and technology, ICT and humanities, alongside dedicated maths and science classrooms. Sport will also form an important part of the redevelopment, with plans incorporating an activity studio, sports hall and swimming pool. Dedicated SEND accommodation will be included within the new school, together with an administration suite and separate entrances for the school and community. The redevelopment extends beyond the main building, with extensive external works planned across the campus. These will include new sports pitches, reconfigured staff parking and a cycle shelter. Sustainability measures are also being incorporated into the design, including green roofs and solar photovoltaic canopies to improve the environmental performance of the new school estate. GRAHAM regional director Pat O’Hare said the new two and three-storey development would bring teaching, specialist learning and sporting facilities together under one roof, providing a significant improvement to the existing campus. The project is particularly important given the presence of RAAC within some of Cranbourne Secondary School’s existing 1960s buildings. Their replacement forms part of the wider investment taking place across the education estate to provide safer, more modern and efficient learning environments. The professional team includes Mason Navarro Pledge as structural engineer, while Cundall is providing MEP engineering services. For GRAHAM, Cranbourne Secondary School represents its third appointment through the Department for Education’s Construction Framework 2021. The contractor’s previous appointments through the framework include The Castle Rock School in Leicestershire and Oasis Academy Temple Quarter in Bristol, strengthening its portfolio of major education projects across the country. With early works already under way and foundations set to follow this autumn, the £50 million investment will deliver a substantial transformation of the Basingstoke school estate, replacing ageing accommodation while bringing teaching, sports and specialist facilities together within a modern purpose-designed campus. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
WorkWell’s Carrwood Park expansion officially opens, following full letting of new Leeds workspace
Yorkshire-based premium serviced office provider, WorkWell, has completed the transformation of its building at Carrwood Park, previously leased to the NHS, turning it into a premium flexible office environment. The 8,675 sq. ft redevelopment delivers a high-quality flexible office facility, compromising of meeting rooms, collaborative areas and private office suites, providing adaptable workspace solutions to businesses across Yorkshire. Designed by Manchester-based NC Studio, the project represents a significant addition to Carrwood Park’s commercial offering, further strengthening its position as an established business location in Leeds. WorkWell’s latest redevelopment has seen the former NHS building reimagined into a modern, premium workspace environment, providing contemporary design features, upgraded facilities and flexible layouts. At the centre of the building, an atrium provides a dynamic shared environment to support both focused work and collaboration with soft finishes, considered lighting, and integrated technology. The expansion of Carrwood Park follows WorkWell’s continued growth across the region, including the launch of its Copthall Bridge location in Harrogate, forming part of the organisation’s wider strategy to deliver premium flexible workspace across Yorkshire. Oliver Corrigan, Managing Director of WorkWell commented: “We’re seeing increasing demand for high-quality workspaces in Yorkshire that offer flexibility, connectivity and a professional environment for businesses. “The successful completion and full letting of Carrwood Park support long-term growth and investment in the region, and it’s particularly encouraging to see organisations such as Horizon Care grow with us and expand their footprint as their team develop. We look forward to continuing to support their ambitions and those of other businesses across the region.” Following completion, the building has welcomed many organisations including Horizon Care & Education, who has significantly expanded since joining WorkWell in 2025. Starting with a five-person office in Building 4, the organisation has now relocated to Building 3, where its growing team has a workspace 800% larger than its original office. Laura Bingham, Director of People & Culture at Horizon Care & Education, added: “Investing in our people is fundamental to Horizon’s culture and to creating an organisation where colleagues can do their best work. Our new WorkWell offices are a really important part of that investment. They have been designed to bring people together, support collaboration and create an environment where colleagues can connect, share ideas as well as supporting wellbeing and belonging. “I’m incredibly proud of the new space and what it represents – our commitment to our people, our culture and creating a workplace where everyone can feel connected, supported and able to thrive.” For further information, please visit the WorkWell website. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals