Equality, diversity & inclusion

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) is embedded in everything that HS2 Ltd does. We seek to set new standards for our supply chain by leading the way for the industry.

We constantly push ourselves to be a more inclusive and diverse employer.

Key and continued areas of focus for us include:

• A board sponsor for EDI, Joanna Davinson.
• An executive leadership team (ELT) sponsor for all eight of our staff networks, to provide strategic guidance on aligning HS2 Ltd annual priorities, with those of our networks, and to provide senior visibility and advocacy.
• EDI goals in all staff annual objectives, with a bespoke library of goals, which is refreshed annually, for our ELT and our senior leadership team (SLT) focused on championing inclusivity and challenging bias.
• Training for our senior leaders focused on evidence-based decision making; and
• Reverse mentoring programme: that pairs SLT members with a mentor to help them better understand the issues that are important to our staff, as well as the lived experience of a junior colleague.
• Focus on attraction, recruitment and retention of diverse talent through targeted development programmes, guaranteed interview schemes and diverse interview panels.

EDI is embedded in our complex supply chain to achieve lasting change that promotes industry-wide benefits. HS2 uses procurement levers to ensure EDI contractual requirements, which builds an inclusive and diverse workforce where everyone feels safe. We are creating a diverse supply chain that is representative of the communities who live and work along the route of the railway.

Integrating inclusive practices into site operations helps improve the health, safety, and wellbeing of our staff. Inclusive design is essential in ensuring our stations and trains are accessible to everyone.

We have a focus on embedding industry best practice and lessons learned from main works civils and stations improvement plans.

Our focus includes:

• Prevention of modern slavery
• Health and Safety reporting systems on site

We aspire to respect the diverse people and communities we affect as we build the new railway. We know that planning and building the railway disrupts the lives of local people and we always try to reduce disruption as much as possible. We engage with diverse communities along the HS2 route and share the opportunities the project brings, from education programmes, to jobs, skills and apprenticeships .

How are we doing this?

• Specialist support services: The service provides independent support to people whose personal circumstances, disability, or long-term medical conditions impact on their ability to self-advocate.
• Skills and training opportunities at Euston Skills Centre: A new centre built to upskill communities living close to HS2’s Euston station site was officially opened in a ceremony

Read our HS2 community engagement strategy