West Midlands firms rush to capitalise on HS2 opportunities
AN event in Coventry outlining supply chain opportunities for the £56bn HS2 high speed rail project has been massively over-subscribed such is the clamour by firms in the West Midlands to get to get involved in the scheme.
More than 500 businesses have applied to attend today’s event at the Manufacturing Technology Centre at Ansty Park – the first time any of the 11 HS2 roadshows already held around the country has been over-subscribed.
All those attending are eager to take advantage of the billions of pounds worth of contracts available for the first phase of construction, which covers the section of the route between Birmingham and London.
They will learn more about the type of work packages that will be available and how they can apply for contracts.
Nigel Maris, from Assembled Electronic Solutions in Stratford-upon-Avon, is one of those attending.
He said: “Our core business of designing circuit boards and control systems has traditionally been in the automotive, aerospace and medical sectors. But our knowledge has the potential to be transferable to the rail sector so HS2 is a huge opportunity for us.
“We’re particularly keen to learn about how SMEs can benefit from this huge infrastructure project and what the main contractors will be doing to work with companies like ours.”
Beth West, commercial director for HS2 Ltd, the body responsible for delivering the new railway, said: “Building HS2 is a massive long-term project and one that offers a huge opportunity for businesses across the West Midlands to bid for billions of pounds worth of contracts, starting with enabling works packages through to supply chain opportunities in engineering and construction.
“To deliver a project of HS2’s size and complexity will require the right companies with the right skills and I hope businesses will take full advantage and get involved with HS2 at an early stage.”
Also present at the event will be representatives of the Black Country, Coventry & Warwickshire, and Greater Birmingham & Solihull Growth Hubs. They will be explaining about a programme of support aimed at helping businesses in the HS2 supply chain.
Ian McLaughlan, of the Greater Birmingham & Solihull Growth Hub, said: “There will be thousands of opportunities within the HS2 supply chain across many business sectors, requiring a range of capabilities, suitable for suppliers of all sizes and generated over a number of years.
“The West Midlands has long been home to some of the UK’s most advanced engineering and manufacturing firms so businesses here really stand to benefit most from an infrastructure project on the scale of HS2. Our job is to make sure they’re in the box-seat.”
