Join us on Tuesday 18 October at 8:30 am to learn more about the incredible opportunities that HS2 will present to a wide variety of SME businesses across the West Midlands.
HS2 is the largest infrastructure project in Europe and the most important economic and social regeneration project in decades, with the West Midlands at the heart of the new network. Britain’s new high-speed rail line is being built from London to the North-West, with HS2 trains linking the biggest cities in Scotland with Manchester, Birmingham and London.
The Government is planning over 260 miles of new high-speed lines across the country. In the West Midlands, there will be two brand new stations along with the HS2 Rolling Stock Maintenance Depot and the Network Infrastructure Control Centre (NICC) for the whole high-speed rail network.
The objective of the session is to inform you of the opportunities available and help you understand how you can become part of the supply chain for these infrastructure projects.
We are delighted to be joined by:
From West Midlands Combined Authority (“WMCA”) will be:
- Andrew Argyle, Chair of the WMCA HS2 Strategic Supply Chain Panel;
- Craig Wakeman, Head of HS2 Delivery; and
- Kirstie Blakeman, HS2 Delivery Manager.
From HS2 Ltd, Balfour Beatty VINCI ("BBV") and the University of Birmingham will be:
- Matthew Munn, Head of Supply Chain Management at BBV;
- Matt Hadlington, Senior Business Engagement Manager at HS2 Ltd; and
- Rachel Eade, Supply Chain specialist at the Birmingham Centre for Rail Research and Education (“BCRRE”).
Date, time and location:
Date: Tuesday 18 October 2022
Time: 8:30 to 11:30 am
Location: Mazars LLP, First Floor, Two Chamberlain Square, Birmingham, B3 3AX
Objectives
More than £23bn of work has been awarded by HS2 so far, and with much more to come, the aim is to maximise the benefits these opportunities offer to the West Midlands by increasing the number of regional businesses being part of the HS2 supply chain.
The WMCA has been at the forefront of this national programme promoting the potential opportunities for all local and regional businesses and has in the past led a regional support programme of £65m to assist businesses to engage in the HS2 project.
As we now enter further phases of HS2, the WMCA wants to explore the reasons why some businesses are not engaging with the project and the challenges they are facing. They also want to connect with those businesses who have successfully engaged to understand their experience and to use this to help others benefit.
In the coming months, HS2 Ltd will be letting significant construction contracts in this region, none more so than at the Interchange station in Solihull and the WMCA want to see local businesses benefit from the opportunities available.
The objectives for this roundtable are:
- To demonstrate the scale and breadth of the opportunity for the region and for individual businesses in the West Midlands.
- To ensure West Midlands SMEs are aware of the HS2 supply chain opportunities directly from HS2 Ltd and its tier 1 contractor and specifically understand:
- What the HS2 procurement criteria is;
- What the procurement process is;
- What the timelines are; and
- Where to go for more information.
- To understand the range of assistance that is available to local businesses and the specific support aimed at helping those looking to become part of the HS2 supply chain.
- For WMCA to gain a greater understanding of barriers to entry to the HS2 project.
- For WMCA to gain a broader insight into the current supply chain challenges and to look deeper into how these may be addressed.
- To hear from regional businesses that have engaged with the HS2 project, their experience and tips for success.
How we can help
If there are any elements of our upcoming roundtable discussion that you would like more information on or help with, please do not hesitate to get in touch using the form below.
Contacts
Stephen Lewis Managing Partner Birmingham - Crisis & Disputes
