Businesses near to the HS2 line of route are being encouraged to find out more about how they could benefit from the construction of Britain’s new low-carbon high speed railway, and are being invited to attend a series of webinars to find out how to get involved. HS2 is Britain’s largest infrastructure project and there will be a wide range of opportunities for local businesses of all types and sizes over a number of years.
Starting on 24 June, as part its ongoing work to get local businesses onboard with the project, HS2 Ltd will be launching the “Work with us Wednesdays” seminar series, delivering an online business event every Wednesday, aimed at informing local companies interested in being part of the effort to build the new railway. To deliver HS2 successfully a wide variety of services, supplies and amenities are needed to support the construction, keep construction sites safe and operational, and support the workforce.
During peak construction, HS2 will require 30,000 people to design and build the railway at multiple construction sites across the route. As well as businesses from the construction sector, other services such as accommodation and catering, as well as cleaning, security and other important amenities will be required. Local businesses will be ideally placed to provide some of these and HS2 Ltd and its contractors are committed to using local companies where possible.
Each seminar will have a different expert speaker who will provide guidance on some of the platforms and processes that HS2 Ltd and its contractors will use to bring businesses onboard. They will also highlight some of the key values and commitments that businesses interested in becoming part of the HS2 supply chain need to demonstrate.
Over 2,000 UK registered businesses are already working on the project and over half of these sit next to the new railway line. An estimated 400,000 supply chain contract opportunities for UK businesses will be created during Phase One of HS2, supporting thousands of jobs on site and many more around the country. It is estimated that around 95% of those contract opportunities will be won by UK based businesses and around two thirds of those will be small and medium sized businesses.
Julie King, HS2 Stakeholder and Community Engagement Director, said:
“HS2 can bring positive and lasting benefits to the communities in which are constructing and will operate. Businesses nearby can offer their local knowledge, services and goods and provide invaluable expertise and in turn benefit from the long-term opportunities on offer. Now more than ever, as the country prepares to recover from the recent pandemic, HS2 provides a boost for local business communities along the route of the new railway.
“This weekly programme will give more businesses a chance to learn about the opportunities there are and to hear from our teams, ask questions, and find out more about how to get onboard with the project.”
HS2 Ltd has been working closely its contractors and local business organisations such as Local Enterprise Partnerships and Chambers of Commerce to raise awareness of the wide range of opportunities to local businesses and help them better understand how to get involved and benefit from HS2. Businesses interested in joining these weekly seminars can find out more at hs2.org.uk/events/work-with-us-wednesdays.
