BMV JV has partnered with a national homelessness charity to employ homeless people for work on the M5 Oldbury Viaduct.

The joint venture between BAM Nuttall, Morgan Sindall Infrastructure, and VolkerFitzpatrick is delivering the refurbishment work on behalf of Highways England.

Crisis, the homeless charity, visited the site last year to discover the range of roles and opportunities available for their clients.

A total of 12 people are undergoing pre-employment training and subsequently starting work on the project, with the hope of creating more opportunities in the future.

Nigel Fullam, project director for BMV JV, commented: "This is a stand-out project for so many reasons, not least because it is one of the largest concrete repair jobs by value in the UK and one of the largest scaffolding projects currently underway in Europe. We are committed to engaging with the local community, and as such I am pleased with the success we have achieved from our partnership with Crisis. To be part of changing people's lives so completely, simply by supporting them into work, is a truly rewarding experience."

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Engagement and Diversity Specialist at Highways England, Jayne Magee, added: "We're really pleased that this essential repair scheme offers jobs that give stability and the opportunity to learn new skills to people that typically face multiple barriers to work. For someone who is homeless, we recognise that not having a permanent address is a significant barrier to getting a job and that 'no home, no job' can feel like an impossible cycle to break free from. This is why outreach work such as this is so incredibly important; solutions are found by working with community partners, in this case Crisis. We look forward to working alongside BMV and others to support any further opportunities that demonstrate inclusion."

(CM/JG)