By Lynda Myer
Being located among Birmingham and London, construction of the first phase of Britain’s new high-speed railway is planned to produce almost 400,000 contracts, which’s estimated value is £25bn and opportunities expected to flow into the supply chain over the coming years, therefore businesses of all sizes across the UK are being encouraged to register their interest in becoming an HS2 supplier.
While the responsibility of determining strategic goals and buying objectives, and introducing the Tier 1 construction partners together with connects to their procurement and supply chain teams, is up to HS2’s new supplier guide, it also contains guidance on how suppliers can organize themselves and prepare for the opportunities of working on HS2.
Additionally, boosting all subcontract opportunities on CompeteFor, where businesses can also launch a company profile, and receive tailored alerts for opportunities that match their trade, is another duty of HS2’s construction partners. HS2 also publishes all indirect contract opportunities on its website, with over 900 contract opportunities currently available.
According to HS2 chief commercial office Ruth Todd: “The project had provided a lifeline to thousands of UK-based SMEs during the pandemic and in these challenging economic times it was vital that British businesses of all sizes prepared to capitalize on the certainty that HS2 contracts provided.”
She also added: “With a two-decade long construction program ahead of us, our contractors need a robust, reliable, and resilient supply chain. Whether seeking to diversify or broaden their client base, now is the time for businesses to get HS2-ready.”
Moreover, supporting over 27,000 jobs, with over 2,550 UK-based businesses engaged in the supply chain, are the other current advantages of HS2’s construction.
While the report of setting up first of six TBMs in HS2 project that is due to excavate beneath London was published earlier this month, in the current week the two TBMs that are boring the longest tunnel, which are stretched from the Chiltern tunnel’s south portal to the second ventilation shaft at Chalfont St Giles, completed the first four miles (6.4km) of their 10 miles (16km) drive.
In total 10 TBMs will create 64 miles (103km) of tunnels between London and the West Midlands.
For further information about joining HS2’s supply chain, visit their website or contact their supply chain team here.
