WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff grows its Manchester rail team

Engineering and construction management firm WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff has grown its rail team in Manchester to address a deficit in the number of rail engineers working across the region.

The firm hired eight rail engineers at its Oxford Road office over the last month, as forecasts point to growth in the number of rail sector contracts available.

Tony Kearns, the company’s operations director for rail, said: “The average age of an engineer in the UK is 54, which means it’s only a few years before we experience a huge loss in specialist skills and knowledge when those engineers retire, unless we do something to tackle the problem now.

“We need to play a part in encouraging more young people into engineering if we’re going to fulfil the ambitious rail development projects which are needed to modernise our railway infrastructure.”

He continued: “Initiatives like the HS2 Rail Academy in Doncaster are playing a part in addressing this issue, but companies like WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff, which have expertise in this field, have a key role to play in inspiring and cultivating the next generation of home-grown engineers.”

WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff’s Manchester-based rail business now comprises a team of 150, with the latest recruitment drive bringing in five graduate engineers, a rail planner and two apprentices.

The firm recently secured a five-year, £15m contract to deliver railway systems designs and engineering on the second phase of the Government’s HS2 plans.

Thousands of jobs in engineering are expected to be created by the major rail improvements and developments coming to the North West, with the Government recently announcing a £1.2bn boost to rail services in the North to drive its vision for a Northern Powerhouse.

WSP | Parsons Brinkerhoff has confirmed plans to recruit further in the coming months.