HS3, the planned fast rail link between the cities of Manchester and Leeds in the UK, is destined to fail unless more is done to ensure the rail industry has the talent it needs to meet anticipated demand, according to rail and construction recruitment specialist One Way. The company warned that the industry is already contending with major skills shortages, jepoardising future projects such as HS3.

“The existing rail workforce is already being stretched by a combination of skills shortages and an uptick in the number of projects being given the green light,” said Managing Director Paul Payne. “Crossrail has already driven major demand for rail expertise and it’s likely that if HS3 is commissioned, the current workforce won’t have capacity to fill all the roles required. These projects could probably be handled if they were happening consecutively, but it will be near-on impossible to meet demand if they are taking place concurrently.”

There is now a much greater need for employers to think about their talent pipelines into the industry and consider how they can bolster their workforces to meet the anticipated demand.

“Currently, there is nowhere near enough specialists in the market and with alternative, tech-focused skill sets likely to be more sought after in the coming years, it’s important for employers to start acting now,” Payne said. “The project would probably be a good move for the economy, particularly in the north, but we need to be realistic and consider whether we actually have the resources to make it a reality.”