HS2 Ltd has kicked off a four-day event that will showcase GBP 12 billion (EUR 13.48 billion) HS2 contract opportunities that businesses from across the UK can find out how to prepare and start bidding for.
The event will give businesses, across hundreds of sectors, a crucial insight into how they can become part of HS2’s rapidly growing supply chain, which already includes over 2,000 businesses.
The company responsible for the implementation of Britain’s new high speed railway says that over 2,000 people registered to attend the virtual event to find out more about the estimated 400,000 supply chain opportunities that will emerge, and how they can get ‘HS2 ready’. 78% of registrations are from SMEs, spanning a range of business specialisms including logistics, electrical engineering, fencing and accommodation providers.
“This event will unlock billions of pounds worth of new contract opportunities on HS2, providing thousands of businesses and their employees with guaranteed incomes, and helping the country’s economic recovery in these uncertain times,” Mark Thurston, the CEO of HS2 Ltd said.
The four-day programme is being delivered in partnership with HS2’s four main works construction partners (Balfour Beatty Vinci (BBV)); Eiffage, Kier, Ferrovial, BAM Nutall (EKFB)); Align and Skanska Costain Strabag) and two stations contractors (Balfour Beatty/Vinci/Systra and Mace/Dragados), who between them will unlock thousands of individual work packages which range in size and value between GBP 5,000 (EUR 5,600) and GBP 200 million (EUR 224.7 million).
The potential contracts represent a huge boost for British businesses seeking security and growth amidst the economic uncertainty arising from the Coronavirus pandemic. The HS2 contract opportunities include the delivery of HS2’s Phase One programme between London and Birmingham, involving the work on the tunnels, viaducts and station foundations along the 140-mile (225 km) route.
HS2 Ltd has so far awarded 98% of its current contracts to UK-based businesses, 70% of which have gone to SMEs, and it aims to continue that positive trend through direct engagement with suppliers and local business during the Meet the Contractor event.
In September the formal HS2 construction has been launched. This year, tenders have been launched for HS2 power supply systems, electrification, signalling and control systems as well as for the track systems.
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