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High Speed Two Reviews
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    High Speed Two Reviews

    Updated 26 June 2017
    40 reviews

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    Full-time Part-time
    3.8
    Star Star Star Star Star
    Rating Trends Rating Trends
    Recommend to a friend
    Approve of CEO
    (no image)
    Mark Thurston
    3 Ratings

    40 Employee Reviews

    Sort: Popular Rating Date
    1. Featured Review

      Helpful (1)

      "Groundbreaking programme that will revolutionise travel experience"

      Star Star Star Star Star
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Current Employee - Director of Railway Operations in Birmingham, England
      Current Employee - Director of Railway Operations in Birmingham, England
      Recommends
      Positive Outlook
      Approves of CEO

      I have been working at High Speed Two full-time (More than a year)

      Pros

      Exciting with ability to set new standards in what a railway delivers for its customers. Teams are made up of highly capable and motivated individuals from diverse backgrounds.

      Cons

      As a public sector entity be prepared for the myriad of governance stages and at times very bureaucratic engagement needed both within the company and with the Department for Transport

      Advice to Management

      Keep up the work to build confidence not only in our delivery capability but that we can be trusted to push out the boundaries of what a railway can do for both its customers, and the nation as a whole

    2. "Frustrating!"

      Star Star Star Star Star
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Former Employee - Anonymous Employee in Birmingham, England
      Former Employee - Anonymous Employee in Birmingham, England
      Recommends
      Neutral Outlook
      Approves of CEO

      I worked at High Speed Two full-time (More than a year)

      Pros

      Potentially safe employment for a few years, range of experienced people, good offices, largest new infrastructure project at the present time.

      Cons

      Senior management not making decisions, processes too long to set up then change with no adequate warning, too many egos, lots of disjointed working and not enough working together.

      Advice to Management

      Try working together instead of constantly putting barriers up.

    3. Helpful (3)

      "Undervalued and poor management"

      Star Star Star Star Star
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Current Employee - Current Employee in London, England
      Current Employee - Current Employee in London, England
      Doesn't Recommend
      Neutral Outlook
      No opinion of CEO

      I have been working at High Speed Two full-time

      Pros

      Lots of lower level staff - both technical and non-technical - wanting to make really positive contribution to a world class infrastructure project.

      Cons

      However, lower level staff are frustrated by the lack of strong direction and management from more senior staff. HR and management support at time of company transformation is non existent.

      Advice to Management

      Make HR function fit for purpose - at the moment, it is completely dysfunctional. Make it a requirement on senior managers to give regular feedback and direction to lower level staff.

      4. Is this helpful? The community relies on everyone sharing – Add Anonymous Review

    4. "Organisation in transformation"

      Star Star Star Star Star
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Current Employee - Anonymous Employee in Birmingham, England
      Current Employee - Anonymous Employee in Birmingham, England
      Recommends
      Neutral Outlook
      No opinion of CEO

      I have been working at High Speed Two full-time (More than a year)

      Pros

      Largest construction project in Europe, friendly staff, large modern building.
      Good continuity of work which is always changing over the next 20 or so years.

      Cons

      Constant change, overreliance on contractors who are not managed, uncertainty over exact roles and unclear expectations from senior management.

      Advice to Management

      Be clear in what you want, how you want it done and for goodness sake speak to your peers to avoid duplications and misunderstandings.

    5. Helpful (3)

      "World class project and great environment"

      Star Star Star Star Star
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Former Employee - Resourcing Specialist in Birmingham, England
      Former Employee - Resourcing Specialist in Birmingham, England
      Recommends
      Positive Outlook

      Pros

      As a project, it's the biggest of its kind and a brilliant company/brand to work for. With royal assent now rubber stamped, it's full steam ahead!

      The management team is receptive to new ideas and it's a dynamic, ever changing environment.
      Good worklife balance, competitive pay and modern office in central Birmingham are a few of the main perks.

      Cons

      A lack of organisation at times but I guess that's par for the course in a project of this scale. A bit more structure is needed within the team and a clearer definition of responsibilities.
      Slightly vague organisation values, not sure if they're relatable.

      Advice to Management

      Involve the resourcing specialist at an earlier stage where possible. This is is a role that can add massive value if utilised correctly.

    6. Helpful (1)

      "Be Prepared To Hit The Ground Running"

      Star Star Star Star Star
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Current Employee - Anonymous Employee in Birmingham, England
      Current Employee - Anonymous Employee in Birmingham, England
      Recommends
      Positive Outlook

      I have been working at High Speed Two full-time (Less than a year)

      Pros

      If you want to join an organisation where your skills are in constant demand, that is being driven forward and where you can actually make a difference in one of the biggest infrastructure projects in a century, then HS2 Ltd may be a good fit.

      It also has the added advantage of being fairly new so you have the possibility of shaping the company itself as the project develops and doesn't carry around a lot of deadweight like older, established organisations do.

      Supportive of working from home, where appropriate.

      Physical and mental health awareness is promoted across the organisation..

      Good benefits package.

      Cons

      Be prepared to be pressured. The project works to a timeline and the pressure is on to meet those deadlines. You may not be working til midnight every night but don't be surprised if you find yourself working extra hours.

      Advice to Management

      In the rush to get things done, don't forget the fundamentals when it comes to managing change. Communication is key, people can handle change a lot better if it's not a surprise.

    7. Helpful (2)

      "Terrible place to work"

      Star Star Star Star Star
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Former Employee - IT Professional in Birmingham, England
      Former Employee - IT Professional in Birmingham, England
      Doesn't Recommend
      Negative Outlook
      No opinion of CEO

      I worked at High Speed Two full-time (More than a year)

      Pros

      Nice laptops and lovely offices. Some really nice people there but they are swimming against the current and are unlikely to stay for any length of time.

      Cons

      Horrible place to work.

      Nothing is written down or confirmed and when it goes wrong guess what no audit trail.
      Management... those that haven't walked out spend their time talking about all the work they have to do... but never actually doing any of it. When a deadline is missed the stock answer is 'I told xxxxxxxxxx to do it'. Was that confirmed on email? No I just told them to do it.

      The management fight among themselves claiming responsibility when stuff goes right (which it never does) and stabbing each other in the back when it more often goes wrong. Again with no audit trail arguments get bitter and nasty hence why so many people leave.

      Prediction: The HS2 final budget will quadruple from the original and the small staff and contractors will get the blame.... and with no audit trail no one will be held accountable.

      Construction seems to work better as they have a job to do... the rest just seem to be wandering about in a daze having meetings which amount to nothing with no responsibility given or taken.

      Staff turnover is horrendous.

      Advice to Management

      Make minutes MANDATORY for every meeting and create some accountability. Hold your managers accountable for their staff turnover. Surely staff choosing to leave with no where to go must tell you something is seriously wrong. Implement exit interviews and ask people why they are leaving.

    8. "Europe’s biggest start up"

      Star Star Star Star Star
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Current Employee - Project Manager in Birmingham, England
      Current Employee - Project Manager in Birmingham, England
      Recommends
      Positive Outlook

      I have been working at High Speed Two full-time (More than a year)

      Pros

      If you want to shape the future of construction then this is the place to work. As a client organisation HS2 is setting the standards for a generation.

      Cons

      In such a creative, collaborative workplace, some will find our working environment challenging and at times frustrating. If you want to sleepwalk to work, push a few buttons and be told what to do then please look elsewhere.
      We need visionaries who are not afraid to challenge, design and lead.

    9. "Recent Joiner"

      Star Star Star Star Star
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Current Employee - Anonymous Employee in Birmingham, England
      Current Employee - Anonymous Employee in Birmingham, England
      Recommends
      Neutral Outlook
      No opinion of CEO

      I have been working at High Speed Two full-time (Less than a year)

      Pros

      High profile, exciting project, involved in something that is going to have lasting legacy for generations to come

      Cons

      Red tape and lack of agility

      Advice to Management

      Get governance under control and proportionate to the requirements

    10. "HS2 Snowhill, Birmingham"

      Star Star Star Star Star
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Current Employee - Planning Manager in Birmingham, England
      Current Employee - Planning Manager in Birmingham, England
      Recommends
      Positive Outlook
      No opinion of CEO

      Pros

      New organisation with plenty of potential to grow your career in. Scope of work is very challenging.

      Cons

      Birmingham based head office, so London opportunities maybe limited.

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