Business News HS2 lends nature a hand
An overgrown eyesore near Coleshill has been transformed into a wildlife haven as part of environmental works by HS2 Ltd. Situated on the banks of the River Tame adjacent to
a sewage works in Hams Hall, the 1.65 hectare site contains a mix of grassland and wetland habitat. The area is to be used for the translocation of five
rare plant species, including marsh willowherb, yellow loosestrife, great burnet and bog stitchwort. The site was previously rife with non-native
Himalayan balsam, which can reduce the pollination of native species. The invasive plants were cleared earlier this year
before environmental contractors Five Rivers Environmental Contracting Ltd installed new shallow ponds, which are also designed to attract amphibians, such as newts and frogs.
A popular public pathway skirts the boundary of the
new habitat, ensuring it is visible to locals and commuters walking to and from the Hams Hall Distribution Park. The Hams Hall site is one of more than 100 new
wildlife habitats being created in the West Midlands and Warwickshire by HS2 Ltd, alongside landscape architects and ecologists, DJV – a joint venture of WSP and Ramboll – and the early works contractor, LMJV. Peter Miller, environment and town planning director,
HS2 Ltd, said: “Managing our impact on the environment during construction is a high priority, and we are committed to building a railway that supports new wildlife habitats, woodlands and community spaces which future generations can enjoy.”
• More transport news on pages 52 and 53.
Higher wages don’t tempt candidates
The number of people in Birmingham applying for new jobs has fallen – despite employers in the city increasing pay. A report by independent job
board CV-Library claims pay for Brummies increased by an average of 4.2 per cent in Q1 2019, but the amount of people applying for new jobs fell by 2.1 per cent. The report, which compared job
market data in January, February and March 2019 the same period last year, found that average pay for new jobs in Birmingham went from £32,077 to £33,428.50. Salaries in the West Midlands as
a whole increased 0.4 per cent, from £32,415 in Q1 2018, to £32,550.50 in 2019. Lee Biggins, founder and chief
executive of CV-Library, said: “The influx in pay has been an ongoing trend over the past four quarters and can largely be attributed to the fact that employers in the city are struggling to source the talent they need. However, the findings suggest that this isn’t enough to sway professionals out of their roles.” The report also found there were
Nurturing nature: The Coleshill site after the works
0.6 per cent less jobs being advertised in Q1, with a drop of 2.9 per cent in the West Midlands as a whole.
June 2019 CHAMBERLINK7
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