Summarising the latest skills, training and workforce updates from across the transport sector

Skills development and workforce readiness have emerged as defining challenges for the transport sector as it navigates large-scale infrastructure delivery, net-zero transition and rapid technological change

Recent announcements from HS2, Enginuity and EngineeringUK underline how employers, industry bodies and policymakers are responding through apprenticeships, reskilling initiatives and calls for systemic reform in education and training.

SURPASSING TARGETS

HS2 has exceeded its original skills commitments, confirming that more than 2,000 people have now started apprenticeships on Britain’s high-speed rail project. Latest figures show that 2,032 apprenticeships have been created, following an additional 99 starts between September and December 2025. Alongside this, HS2 has supported 5,645 unemployed people into work, surpassing its earlier target of 5,000.

A new report from HS2, Mind the Skills Gap, estimates that the combined impact of apprenticeships and job starts delivered to date is worth £315 million to the UK economy. With the programme moving from major civil engineering into rail systems installation, HS2 expects further demand for specialist skills in the coming years.

Rail minister Lord Peter Hendy said: “This Government is committed to breaking down barriers and opening opportunities for young people, and HS2’s continued success in creating thousands of high-quality apprenticeships shows the real difference major infrastructure projects can make to communities across the country.

“A skilled workforce is essential for the UK’s prosperity and economic growth and with tens of thousands of people currently working to deliver HS2, we stand in good stead to deliver this line as fast, and with the lowest cost, possible.”

HS2 currently employs around 33,000 people, with more than 3,700 UK businesses involved in the supply chain. Skills planning has been embedded in the project since 2018, when HS2 published its Skills, Employment and Education Strategy to address anticipated shortages before construction began.

Mark Wild, Chief Executive at HS2, said: “Hitting the 2,000-apprenticeship milestone is a significant achievement and I’m delighted that local people, along the HS2 route, are the ones benefitting from our investment in future talent. Upskilling young people and the unemployed delivers long-term benefits for individuals and the economy. We’re building a pipeline of skilled workers that will support the UK’s growth for a generation.“

RESKILLING FOR ELECTRIFICATION

While rail focuses on large-scale infrastructure delivery, the automotive sector faces widespread skills disruption driven by electrification. According to Enginuity, over 80% of job roles involving powertrain competencies could be affected over the next decade.

The Automotive Upskilling and Reskilling Programme, delivered by Enginuity with partners including the Automotive Skills Council, the Department of Business and Trade and regional automotive alliances, sought to address structural barriers that prevent effective training uptake, particularly among SMEs.

A key output was an intelligent online platform designed to identify skills needs and connect employers with relevant short courses. During its pilot phase, the platform offered access to 50 emerging training units covering electrification, additive manufacturing and advanced materials, at no cost to SMEs and training providers. Evaluation data showed that 121 users accessed the platform, with 95% reporting it was easy or somewhat easy to use. Users cited time savings of up to eight hours when identifying or creating suitable courses, and total financial benefits across users during the pilot phase were estimated at between £1,000 and £8,500.

Enginuity concluded that the platform demonstrated a viable proof of concept but highlighted the need for a broader, sector-agnostic approach to ensure long-term sustainability and wider SME uptake.

CALLS FOR STRATEGIC WORKFORCE PLANNING

At a policy level, EngineeringUK has urged government to adopt a more coordinated approach to skills planning in transport manufacturing. In its submission to the Transport Select Committee, the organisation highlighted declining apprenticeship starts, gender imbalances and gaps in STEM education as risks to future capacity.

EngineeringUK’s recommendations include aligning education pathways with industrial strategy, maintaining funding for Level 3 technical qualifications alongside T Levels, and reforming apprenticeships to better support SMEs. The submission also calls for decisive action on STEM teacher recruitment and clearer transparency on the government’s £100 million engineering skills investment.

Rose Martin, policy manager at EngineeringUK, stated: “We ask the government to take a strategic approach to engineering and technology workforce planning, and to look across the skills and people elements of the Industrial Strategy sector plans to ensure that common skills needs are identified and addressed.”