HS2 factor sees engineering firm relocate to central Birmingham

ENGINEERING firm Jacobs is to open a new office in Birmingham city centre and admits that developments surrounding the delivery of high-speed rail project HS2 have helped to shape its plans.

It plans to open a new office on Colmore Square this autumn, moving staff from two existing Birmingham offices into its new base.

The new office will provide capacity for 200-300 employees and this allows the firm to expand in the first phase. 

It has been suggested up to 100 new jobs could be created initially with longer-term plans to create a 1,000-strong Birmingham office.

Jacobs delivers major programmes of work across the highways, rail, aviation, automotive, utilities, energy, buildings and other sectors, both locally and globally.

The firm wants to be near the HS2 headquarters at Two Snowhill.

Jacobs Group vice president Bob Duff said: “This new location in the heart of Birmingham and close to the region’s leading education providers furthers our long-term commitment to the Midlands.

“Our larger premises enable Jacobs to continue to grow our local service provision next to our core customers, supported by our local education partners; and we are well positioned to service the developing HS2 programme.

“We are investing significantly in our Birmingham operations, with further phased expansion planned, which will support the region’s exciting vision to be a thriving economic hub.

“We expect this growth to yield greater opportunities for our existing employees and for new recruits, including graduates and apprentices, to enhance and develop their skills.”

Wouter Schuitemaker, investment director at the city’s inward investment agency Business Birmingham, said: “Jacobs is joining the record number of global companies flocking to Birmingham. Today’s announcement will cement Jacobs’ commitment to the region, create new job opportunities and boost Birmingham’s credentials as a world-class manufacturing hub.

“Firms like Jacobs are increasingly turning to Birmingham to work on nationally significant infrastructure projects and to recruit from one the largest pools of skilled workers in the country.

“We believe that investment of this kind from such a well-regarded global business will be of immense benefit to the UK economy.”