Around 400,000 supply chain contracts are expected to be up for grabs during construction of the high speed rail line between London and Birmingham covering a wide range of products, services and sectors.

The contract opportunities available are not just about track and trains. HS2 will also be looking for everything from engineering solutions to catering services, designers to ecologists and logistics to electronic components.

Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street is hosting a summit for local businesses, particularly small and medium sized firms, where they can find out more about the contracts on offer and how to access them.

He will be joined by HS2 CEO Mark Thurston for the online webinar on Wednesday October 14.

Among local firms that have already secured contracts are:

• McAuliffe’s of Bilston who have been recycling excavated spoil from the Curzon Street site for use at the Interchange station site.
• Armac Demolition of Solihull and City Demolition of Aston, working in and around Birmingham on early site demolition and clearance
• Fitzgerald Contractors a Birmingham civil engineering company working on the preparation of the Streethay site in Lichfield.
• Forkers in West Bromwich, working to support environmental mitigation work
• Biosite Systems in Solihull, providing innovative technology systems designed to manage workforces and improve productivity and compliance.

Street said: “HS2 is already bringing economic growth to the region, and providing , jobs for  local people right across the whole of the West Midlands. With many more contracts up for grabs, that’s why this summit is so important.

“Aimed specifically at small and medium sized businesses right here in the West Midlands, it’s designed to give local employers every opportunity to secure the supply chain contracts that are coming with HS2.

“In turn, those contracts will give local people opportunities to secure  high-skilled, jobs that will come with the project.

“And these jobs aren’t just in construction, because as work on the new line ramps up over the next few months and years, there will be many thousands more opportunities for a wide variety of local businesses.”

HS2 CEO Mark Thurston said: “HS2 is the most important economic regeneration project in Britain for decades. Over 2,000 businesses are already working on the project, with UK-based businesses making up 98% of contracts, 70% SMEs and over 1,000 direct SME contracts.

“We are already seeing the benefits that building HS2 is bringing to the Midlands, and as we now move from enabling works, scheme design and preparatory work, to full construction of the railway, there are many more opportunities for local companies.

“With work already well underway at over 250 active sites, we have announced around £18bn worth of contracts and by the end of 2022 that will be around £25bn. I’d encourage local businesses to find out more and get on board.”

To register for the event click here.