Former Royal Air Force officer Maggie McCann is leading the charge in encouraging fellow ex-service personnel to pursue rewarding careers on the HS2 high-speed rail project. Her story highlights the success of a programme designed to support veterans transitioning into the construction industry.
McCann, 35, from Lincolnshire, recently joined HS2 as a consents manager, a role crucial to securing the environmental and planning permissions necessary for the railway’s construction. She is now urging others to consider a similar career path, ahead of a dedicated open day for former Armed Forces personnel in the West Midlands next week.
Despite initially aspiring to be a pilot, McCann’s career took a different direction when she didn’t meet the required medical standards. Undeterred, she excelled as an engineering officer in the RAF for 13 years, including two international tours. However, she eventually sought a new challenge and turned to BuildForce, a collaborative programme assisting ex-forces personnel in finding construction sector employment.
Through BuildForce’s support and HS2’s initiative to employ under-represented groups, McCann secured her role with Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV), HS2’s West Midlands construction partner. She is the first female former services recruit to join BBV through the BuildForce partnership.
Reflecting on her experience and her new job supporting Britain’s biggest infrastructure programme, Maggie said: “I’m enormously grateful for the warm welcome I’ve received, since joining Balfour Beatty VINCI three months ago. From day one, I’ve felt supported by my colleagues and the BuildForce team, as I get to grips with my new role, in a new industry.
“I’m excited for this new challenge, and to play my part in helping to deliver HS2 in the West Midlands.”
Since 2021, over 100 ex-forces personnel have found employment on HS2 through the BuildForce partnership, with approximately 60% joining BBV.
Andrew Bellingall, Senior Project Manager at Balfour Beatty VINCI, leads the team that Maggie has joined. Andrew, who is also a Buildforce Ambassador, said: “Maggie brings a tremendous amount of experience and transferable skills from her time in the RAF, which is already benefiting the wider team. Like Maggie, I also transitioned from a rewarding career in the Armed Forces to an equally rewarding career in construction.
“I’d encourage other service leavers thinking about taking the next step in their career to join BBV and be part of the biggest infrastructure project in the UK.”
BBV, tasked with constructing a 90km section of the HS2 route, is actively seeking to expand its workforce and encourages former service personnel to explore career opportunities.
To further this effort, BBV will host a dedicated open day at its Kingsbury construction site on March 27th, where McCann will share her experiences.
HS2 and its contractors provide extensive support to new recruits, including mentors, coaching, and mental health and wellbeing services, recognising the unique challenges faced by former service personnel.
Caroline Logan, Programme Director at BuildForce, said: “The depth of skillsets within our military community is constantly responding to the changing needs of HS2 and we look forward to supporting more ex-military candidates onto the project in the future.”
“Maggie was an absolute delight to work with. We assigned her a BBV mentor, a former BuildForce candidate, and worked together to match her military skillets to the consents manager role. Maggie joins a long line of military personnel we have supported into new careers on HS2, and through our partnership with BBV we have built a robust internal military network.
Ex-service personnel interested in exploring career opportunities on HS2 are encouraged to attend the BBV open day. More information is available on the BuildForce website.
