Apprenticeship - Project Controls - HS2

HS2's apprenticeship programmes are designed to combine hands-on practical learning, with structured technical development through selected training providers.

Apprentices will learn directly from industry experts, gaining real-world experience while applying their knowledge in the workplace.

Throughout the apprenticeship programme at HS2, apprentices also benefit from additional development opportunities, including a core skill development pathway and an extensive support network, enabling professional growth and building the confidence needed to succeed.

As a Level 3 Project Controls Technician Apprentice at HS2 you will learn about project life cycles, and develop the skills and knowledge required to understand and apply the terms and processes relating to project controls including planning, scheduling, risk, estimating, and cost engineering to support the delivery of the HS2 programme.

The Apprenticeship Programme involves hands on experience working across the project controls teams within the business whilst studying for the apprenticeship.

There are three Level 3 Project Controls Technician apprenticeship roles available this year — one based in London and two in Birmingham. All positions will involve regular travel to various site locations along the HS2 route.

Successful Apprentices will join the HS2 programme in September 2026 for an induction and to meet their fellow early careers cohort. They will then undertake a range of placements across relevant teams to ensure they are able to meet the requirements of their apprenticeship standard, whilst gaining hands on experience in the workplace, providing them with the skills, knowledge and experience to succeed in their chosen discipline area.

Programme Controls

At HS2 Ltd Programme Controls plays a key role in setting standards and establishes integrated controls to provide clear and consistent views of project progress. These controls ensure timely, informed decision making and provide confidence that projects are being managed on time, within scope and budget.

What you'll do

As a Programme Controls Graduate, you will support the Chief Programme Office Directorate (CPO) and wider Project Controls teams to support the overall management and coordination of multiple projects within a programme. You will be involved in all facets of programme controls including risk, cost, schedule and change management

Accountabilities:

· Support project controls activities to monitor cost, schedule, risk and performance across the programme

· Collate, review and maintain data to assist with tracking progress, costs, and performance against agreed baselines and milestones

· Support with the preparation of project reports, dashboards and performance updates for senior stakeholders

· Assist with identification, assessment and mitigation of risks, helping to maintain risk registers

· Help manage changes to the programme's scope ensuring that any changes are documented, assessed for impact and approved according to change management processes.

· Support effective communication between project teams, programme managers and stakeholders, ensuring that key information is shared and understood.

· Actively promote and embed Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in all your work and support and comply with all organisational initiatives, policies and procedures on EDI

Expectations:

· Attendance and engagement at apprenticeship training with apprenticeship provider

· Attendance and engagement at core skills workshops and development sessions

· Complete all work on time and to required standards

· Complete all required off the job training, assessments and professional development in line with the level 3 apprenticeship standard

· Complete the Level 3 Project Controls Technician apprenticeship programme within the defined timeframe

Skills:

· Communication Skills: The ability to communicate with a range of stakeholders at various levels within an organisation

· Collaborative Working: The ability to work independently and as part of a team to achieve positive outcomes

· Interpersonal and relationship skills: The ability to build good working relationships with internal and external colleagues and contacts

· Prioritisation Skills: The ability to organise workloads and deliver activities/projects in a timely manner, ensuring quality outputs

· Ability to follow process: working to a process to achieve an outcome and/or identify improvements to existing processes

· Analytical skills: Ability to access, analyse and maintain information from multiple IT databases and systems, including report writing.

Knowledge:

· IT: skills, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint or equivalent

Type of experience:

To join us on an Apprenticeship Programme, you'll need to have achieved or expect to achieve 5 GCSEs at grade 4 minimum, including English and Maths, or equivalent

Behavioural Competencies:

The post-holder is expected to behave at all times in a manner consistent with HS2 company values.

Our Apprenticeship programme salaries:

Salaries are currently pending pay review; however please see the figures below based on 2025 year one apprentice salaries:

London locations (inside M25):

Level3/Year1 - basic salary of £21,122 plus 10% flexible allowance = £23,234

Non-London Locations:

Level3/Year1 - basic salary of £19,740 plus 10% flexible allowance = £21,687

Does HS2 offer sponsorship if I do not have the Right to Work in the UK?

To be eligible to apply for HS2's 2026 Apprenticeship programmes, all applicants will need to already hold the on-going Right to Work in the UK, that is not timebound in any way.

Please note, unfortunately due to the 2-year time-bound restrictions of the Post Study Work visa, we are unable to accept any applicants who have this visa as the apprenticeship programme exceeds this timeframe.

Due to the nature of the organisation, HS2 are not able to sponsor any applications for sponsorship as we do not hold the required sponsorship license from the UK Home Office and candidates are not allowed to sponsor themselves.

We appreciate the Right to Work question can be complex to understand, so if you are unsure of your Right to Work status in the UK, please email us at HS2Jobs@hs2.org.uk and we will be happy to advise further.

Please note, to enable HS2 to comply with UK Home Office policy, your Right to Work status will be checked early in the recruitment process.