US Edition
HS2 investigating two firms supplying staff for West Midlands leg
- HS2 Ltd is examining two labour supply companies accused of misclassifying workers involved in constructing the segment of the London-Birmingham HS2 route located within the West Midlands.
- The investigation commenced in early 2025 following whistleblower reports that some labour suppliers were misclassifying self-employed workers as salaried PAYE employees, leading to inflated billing rates.
- Balfour Beatty VINCI, the main contractor for the West Midlands section, has not been accused of wrongdoing but has introduced enhanced monitoring and controls for labour suppliers.
- HS2 Ltd and the Department for Transport stress their zero-tolerance policy on fraud and ensure all whistleblower allegations will be thoroughly investigated to maintain project integrity.
- This inquiry highlights ongoing challenges in managing the nearly 140-mile HS2 programme, which employs around 31,000 people and faces rising costs driven by inflation and project complexities.
18 Articles
18 Articles
Evening Standard
HS2 investigating two firms supplying construction staff
A HS2 Ltd spokesman said they were ‘aware of the claims made in relation to labour suppliers on part of the route’.
Sky News UK
The IndependentHS2: Investigation launched into two firms supplying construction workers
HS2 says it "treats all whistleblower allegations seriously" and launched an investigation earlier this year, while the Department for Transport says it will ensure any claims of wrongdoing are "thoroughly investigated".
TBM Mary Ann breaks through – High-Speed Rail Group
HS2’s giant tunnelling machine Mary Ann broke through in May – marking the end of her mission to excavate the first bore of what will soon become the longest railway tunnel in the West Midlands. The 125-metre-long machine began constructing the 3.5-mile (5.8km) Bromford Tunnel, which starts at the Warwickshire village of Water Orton and extends to the northeast Birmingham suburb of Washwood Heath, in July 2023. The TBM was named Mary Ann, by the…
HS2 launches probe into labour-supply allegations
HS2 has launched an investigation into whistleblower claims that overinflated rates were charged for workers supplied to build the West Midlands section of the route. The allegations relate to two labour suppliers employed by the Balfour Beatty Vinci (BBV) joint venture on the London-to-Birmingham high-speed… The post HS2 launches probe into labour-supply allegations appeared first on Construction News.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 67% of the sources are Center
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
