A supplier of labour to the construction industry is celebrating winning a contract with HS2 which it says will create hundreds of jobs and bring thousands in economic value into the West Midlands.
Walsall-based Fortel Group, which supplies more than 2,000 staff to around 130 construction and infrastructure projects across the UK, has won a contract with the Balfour Beatty Vinci joint venture to work on a 60-mile stretch of the new high-speed rail line.
The so-called N1 and N2 phase of HS2 stretches between Long Itchington Wood Green tunnel east of Leamington Spa, across the Delta Junction at Water Orton and onwards north to Lichfield.
Fortel said it was looking to fulfil upwards of 500 roles including general labour, steel-fixers, carpenters, supervisors and health and safety personnel.
This latest win comes just three months after Fortel was crowned Company of the Year at our Birmingham BusinessLive Awards.
It won our new diversity and inclusion category before being picked as the overall winner, with judges praising the firm for being a disruptor in its field and being impressed with its work in diversity and inclusion and how it excelled in a difficult sector during the pandemic.
Nick Jones, head of labour supply at Fortel, said: "We were thrilled to pick up this contract and know that we will be linking the skills within the West Midlands with one of the biggest construction projects for many years taking place within the region.
"We are going to be driving forward the construction skills capability across the region's communities and offering great opportunities for individuals working here.
"We join other peer organisations in a co-located collaborative physical labour desk to support the joint venture.
"Success is dependent upon us all working together to achieve the potential for enterprise and individuals within the West Midlands.
"This win will bring great benefits to the local economy with huge opportunities for local people and we are passionate that these jobs go to people in the area.
"These roles will bring great diversity of people and transferable skills into the infrastructure sector."
Also working on the project to supply staff are VGC Group, McGinley Support Services and Danny Sullivan Group, all of which are headquartered in the South East.
Gavin Sutherland, labour director for the Balfour Beatty Vinci joint venture, added: "The collaborative labour desk has mobilised really well - the culture of mutual dependence is tangible.
"This will be the backbone of an exemplar employment model where we can build and leave a legacy of construction and infrastructure skill sets among the West Midlands population.
"By working together, bringing all of our skills, innovation and experience to the table, we are focused on delivering the project and realising the enterprise potential for the region together with the prospect of great careers in construction and infrastructure operation."
