Kier in drive to recruit 1,200 people

Kier has launched a drive to recruit 1,200 people across the UK on projects including schools, hospitals, roads and rail.

Kier, which currently employs 11,000 people, said it is looking to hire “diverse new talent” and that prior experience of construction was not necessary for many roles.

It said it would look for candidates at various “entry points” including graduate, apprenticeship and Kickstart opportunities for a range of posts including technology engineers, sustainability coordinators, general operatives, business analysts, as well as positions in finance, IT and human resources.

The group also has programmes such as Making Ground, which supports ex-offenders in finding sustainable employment.

Helen Redfern, group HR director at Kier, said: “We have a strong pipeline of work, delivering some of the largest infrastructure projects in the UK and we are also playing a critical role in transforming the construction industry. It’s an exciting time to join and through this large-scale recruitment drive we hope to attract a new and diverse range of talent.

“I am committed to breaking down barriers within the construction industry to ensure we are offering opportunities to people from all locations, backgrounds and sectors to bring in new skills, an inclusive approach and diversity of thought as we spearhead change to deliver our projects faster, safer and greener than ever before.”

Naaki Mensah, a civil engineer at Kier Group, said: “My friends and I left university and we all went into construction. During the lockdown, a lot of them have gained employment as opposed to losing jobs, it’s been interesting and almost the opposite from a lot of industries as construction stayed open and there are always work opportunities on site.”