How West Midlands businesses can grab their share of 400,000 HS2 contracts

Small and medium sized businesses in the West Midlands can find out more about the thousands of HS2 contracts on offer at an online regional summit next month.

An estimated 400,000 supply chain contracts are expected to be up for grabs during construction of the high speed rail line between London and Birmingham covering a wide range of products, services and sectors.

The contract opportunities available are not just about track and trains; HS2 will be looking for everything from engineering solutions to catering services, designers to ecologists and logistics to electronic components.

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 access them.

He will be joined by HS2 CEO Mark Thurston for the online webinar, as well as West Midlands based firms who have already secured contracts on the mega project.

The supply chain summit is online at 11.45am on Wednesday 14th October.

Among local firms that 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 clearanc
•  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
• Biosite Systems in Solihull, providing innovative technology systems designed to manage workforces and improve productivity and compliance.

Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street said: “HS2 is already bringing economic growth to the region, and providing , jobs for local people right across the whole of the West Midlands. With many more contracts up for grabs, 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.

“In turn, those contracts will give local people opportunities to secure high-skilled, jobs that will come with the project. 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 added: “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.”

HS2 CEO Mark Thurston said: “HS2 is the most important economic regeneration project in Britain for decades. Over 2,000 businesses are already working on the project, with UK-based businesses making up 98% of contracts, 70% SMEs and over 1,000 direct SME contracts.

“We are already seeing the benefits that building HS2 is bringing to the Midlands, and as we now move from enabling works, scheme design and preparatory work, to full construction of the railway, there are many more opportunities for local companies.

“With work already well underway at over 250 active sites, we have announced around £18bn worth of contracts and by the end of 2022 that will be around £25bn. I’d encourage local businesses to find out more and get on board.”

The event will be chaired by Steve Hollis, chair of the West Midlands HS2 Growth Delivery Board and, as well as the mayor and Mark Thurston.

There will also be presentations from 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 the Mayoral and HS2 supply chain summit website.