Adam Griffiths, groundworker

Adam joined VGC ‘s team supporting client BBV in Birmingham on 29 June 2020.

He joined VGC through our partnership with Wallsall Works and the West Midlands Combined Authority, which aims to help people who are unemployed into sustainable work.

He is the first candidate from Walsall Works to secure employment on HS2.

Adam joined the Black Country Impact programme, which supports 16 to 29 year olds who were not in education, employment or training, hoping to secure employment in either painting and decorating or construction.

After he completed a two-week course with Walsall College, he gained his CSCS card.

He then wanted to develop further, and Black Country Impact funded him to complete a forklift counterbalance and reach licence with GTG training. He successfully completed the training and gained the licences.

Adam was recently promoted to groundworker.

I was introduced to James Burke, VGC delivery manager, through HS2’s contractor Balfour Beatty Vinci. VGC has proved to be an excellent strategic partner with Walsall Council since 2020. They have contacted me with further vacancies and took part in a virtual construction jobs event in July 2020. They also recently presented opportunities at a virtual event as part of International Women’s Day.

VGC will be nominated for a Bronze award at our next Walsall Works awards event.

Rob Beck, Walsall council employment and skills officer

VGC has a number of teams working for client BBV on enabling works for HS2 N1 and N2 sections near Birmingham. They are supported by delivery manager James Burke and labour manager Kayleigh Boxley.

90% of our people live less than an hour’s travel away from the project, which covers over 80km.

Training sessions to upskill the workforce have continued despite COVID. These included IPAF (International Powered Access Federation) training on MEWP (mobile elevating work platforms), EUSR (Energy and Utility Skills) and SSSTS (Site Supervisors Safety Training Scheme) training.