05.11.15
Scottish firms urged to join HS2 phase 1 supply chain
Over 160 large and small firms within the Scottish supply chain are finding out more about HS2 contracts today in an Edinburgh conference.
Businesses will learn more about competing for the seven phase 1 construction contracts pooled at £11.8bn, first launched during the chancellor’s visit to China in September.
Speakers at the event – including HS2 chief executive Simon Kirby, the HS2 minister Robert Goodwill MP and the Scottish transport and infrastructure secretary Keith Brown MSP – will urge companies from Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Inverness to become a part of the sizeable supply chain required from 2017.
They will provide specific, technical information on how these firms can apply for contracts – both in design and construction and across a wide range of supporting activities, such as signalling and telecommunications.
Kirby said: “Britain’s high speed rail network is a major, long-term project offering a huge opportunity for Scottish companies to develop the necessary staff and skills base that will position them to bid for the billions of pounds worth of contracts available throughout the supply chain during construction.
“To deliver a project of HS2’s scale and complexity requires the right companies with the right skills. I’m extremely pleased that so many firms across Scotland have signed up to find out more about how they can benefit from this huge UK infrastructure investment.
The Scottish secretary for infrastructure, investment and cities, Keith Brown, said their government is committed to the high speed network – and that their supply chain is capable of providing it, as evidenced by the re-opening of the Borders Railway.
Bryan Buchan, CEO of Scottish Engineering, added to that: “Scotland’s strong engineering base, particularly the specialist metal machining sector, puts a large number of Scottish companies in a position to contribute to the supply chain for HS2.
“Two major players in Scotland, Progress Rail and Network Engineering (part of Babcock International), for example, already have specific expertise in railway construction and servicing. The precision machine houses that support the oil and gas industry can also bring the expertise needed to deliver this major engineering project.”
The event also closely follows a similar conference in Northern Ireland, during which senior HS2 Ltd representatives urged companies to bid for the contracts based on their involvement in the London Olympics and Crossrail.