There are expected to be an estimated 400,000 supply chain opportunities up for grabs during construction of the high speed rail line between London and Birmingham covering a wide range of activities, locations and sectors from construction and civil engineering to catering and deliveries.

Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street is hosting a summit for local businesses, particularly small and medium sized enterprises, where they can find out more about the contracts on offer and how to get them.

He will be joined by HS2 chief executive Mark Thurston for the online webinar, as well as West Midlands based firms who have already secured high speed rail contracts. 

Among local firms to have already secured contracts are:

• McAuliffe’s of Bilston who have been recycling excavated spoil from the Curzon Street site for use at the Interchange station site.
• Armac Demolition of Solihull and City Demolition of Aston, working in and around Birmingham on early site demolition and clearance
• Fitzgerald Contractors a Birmingham civil engineering company working on the preparation of the Streethay site in Lichfield.
• Forkers in West Bromwich, working to support environmental mitigation work

Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street said:

“HS2 isn’t just about higher speed rail. “It’s about bringing higher economic growth to the region. And higher paid, higher skilled jobs to local people right across the whole of the West Midlands.  

“That’s why this summit is so important. Aimed specifically at small and medium sized businesses right here in the West Midlands, it’s designed to give local employers every opportunity to secure the supply chain contracts that are coming with HS2. 

“It’s about giving local people every opportunity to secure the high-skilled, high paid jobs that will come with high speed rail. And these jobs aren’t just in construction, because as work on the new line ramps up over the next few months and years, there will be many thousands more opportunities for a wide variety of local businesses.”

Talking about the importance of HS2’s leading role in the recovery of our region following the impact of Covid-19, the Mayor went on to say:

“Before lockdown the West Midlands was the fastest growing economy in the UK outside London, and the huge investment being brought by HS2 offers a chance for us to recover even stronger – especially if our many creative and innovative businesses can make the most of this once in a lifetime opportunity.”

Businesses can register for the online summit which will be held at 11.45am on Wednesday 14th October.

The event will be chaired by Steve Hollis, chair of the West Midlands HS2 Growth Delivery Board and, as well as the Mayor and Mr Thurston, there will be presentations for contractors, business groups and HS2 Ltd’s supply chain manager Robert Slater with all the information supplied on how to take advantage of the opportunities on offer.

For the full details and register visit: 

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3160417940873481739