Birmingham ever since it was first announced
and there has definitely been an uptick in
businesses wanting to create a base here,
although this is difficult to solely attribute to
the scheme.”
For Stokes one of the key opportunities
HS2 offers is the business organisations could
win from London. She adds: “Faster and more
reliable travel times to see clients means
Birmingham businesses in the service sector
are able to split work between London and
Birmingham offices and create more jobs
in Birmingham.”
For businesses like Jacobs Engineering,
an engineering consultancy that has had a
presence in Birmingham since the 1980s,
HS2 helps reinforce a long-standing
commitment to the city and its
surrounding region.
Søren Carlsen, Jacobs’
vice president of human
resources, people and
places solutions
EMEA, says:
“Birmingham is a
major market for
Jacobs. Being
closer to some of our major clients including
the HS2 headquarters, Birmingham City
Council and Highways England has helped
expand our presence and service
accessibility.”
Historically the career opportunities
available in London have meant the city has