On HS2, Kier and Eiffage are now 50/50 joint venture partners delivering two of the seven civil engineering packages, lots C2 and C3. All 51 Carillion employees, including apprentices, working on the CEK HS2 joint venture have been offered the opportunity to join Kier/Eiffage with continuous service being maintained.

The HS2 lots are now assigned as follows:

Area South 

  • S1: Euston Tunnels and Approaches – SCS JV (Skanska Construction UK, Costain, Strabag)
  • S2: Northolt Tunnels – SCS JV (Skanska Construction UK, Costain, Strabag)

Area Central 

  • C1: Chiltern Tunnels and Colne Valley Viaduct – Align JV (Bouygues Travaux Publics, VolkerFitzpatrick, Sir Robert McAlpine)
  • C2: North Portal Chiltern Tunnels to Brackley – CEK JV (Eiffage Genie Civil, Kier Infrastructure and Overseas)
  • C3: Brackley to South Portal of Long Itchington Wood Green Tunnel – CEK JV (Eiffage Genie Civil, Kier Infrastructure and Overseas)

Area North 

  • N1: Long Itchington Wood Green Tunnel to Delta Junction and Birmingham Spur – BBV JV (Balfour Beatty Group, Vinci Construction Grands Projets, Vinci Construction UK, Vinci Construction Terrassement)
  • N2: Delta Junction to WCML Tie-In – BBV JV (Balfour Beatty Group, Vinci Construction Grands Projets, Vinci Construction UK, Vinci Construction Terrassement).

Kier chief executive Haydn Mursell said, “We have been working collaboratively with our client HS2 to reach a solution, which has been ratified by Government. We are pleased to offer continuity of employment to all the 51 Carillion employees including apprentices, currently working as part of the HS2 joint venture team, and we will step in to ensure continuity of delivery of the programme.”

Benoît de Ruffray, Eiffage Chairman and Chief Executive Officer added, “The joint venture teams from Eiffage, Kier and Carillion have all worked incredibly well together, collaborating to produce a strong and successful bid. I look forward to welcoming all new employees and have confidence in the continued successful delivery of this project.”

Mark Thurston, Chief Executive of HS2 said, “We welcome this decision by the remaining JV partners. Through this difficult time the team has continued to deliver and we’re grateful for their ongoing hard work and dedication. No time delays or costs implication have come about as a result of the events of this week, underlining the strength of the joint venture approach taken by HS2 in procuring its partners.”

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: “This announcement demonstrates the strength and purpose of the joint venture contracts agreed on HS2 works. These have enabled Kier and Eiffage to step in as planned and guarantee continued employment, apprenticeships and the seamless delivery of this vital project.”

“HS2 carried out at the point of award, additional due diligence to ensure, even without Carillion, these projects would continue. HS2 will, of course, continue to monitor the situation.”