Infrastructure and construction group Balfour Beatty reported plans to increase its UK workforce from around 14,000 to 16,000 over the next two years as it expands to deliver major infrastructure projects.

The recruitment drive would take the company’s UK workforce more than 30% higher over four years, from 12,200 at the end of 2023 to about 16,000 by the end of 2027.

Around 1,000 of the new positions are expected to be filled through early-career routes including apprenticeships, graduate programmes, internships and trainee roles.

The FTSE 250 company said the expansion was supported by a strong UK order book, with energy infrastructure a key growth driver. UK Power Transmission revenue rose 24% in the first half of 2026, while its order book reached £2.1bn, alongside an identified pipeline of £6bn to £8bn.

The announcement follows a strong first half for Balfour Beatty. Its shares rose more than 10% in August to a record £9.73 after the group reported higher first-half results and upgraded its full-year outlook, driven by demand for US building projects and UK power transmission work. It also increased full-year net cash guidance by £200m to between £1.5bn and £1.7bn

Balfour Beatty works with around 7,200 UK supply chain partners, 64% of which are SMEs. According to the firm, its supply chain supports more than four million jobs.

CEO Philip Hoare said: “Britain’s infrastructure ambitions will only be realised if the country has the capacity, capability and skills to deliver them. Expanding our workforce by 2,000 is a clear vote of confidence in the market. It shows the scale of opportunity ahead and our commitment to investing in the people, projects and technical expertise that will power Britain’s future.”

Business secretary Jonathan Reynolds added: “This is exactly what we want to see – a big British company backing Britain and creating 2,000 more jobs. We’ve got a huge amount of work to do to get growth in every postcode over the next few years. So having British firms investing in people here, and training up the next generation to do those jobs, is really good news.”

---