HS2 hosts online meet and greet

HS2 Ltd’s third annual Meet the Contractor event takes place from November 23-26, and for the first time ever, it will be entirely online. 

Potential suppliers will have the opportunity to learn about the HS2 project and how to get involved. As part of the event 1,100 15-minute one-to-one meetings will be available, for potential suppliers to discuss upcoming contract opportunities with the companies awarding them.

Construction of phase one of Britain’s new high speed railway between the West Midlands and London was officially started by the Prime Minister in September. Extending over 140 miles, the line will include over 50 bridges, 110 embankments, 150 bridges and 32 miles of tunnels.

At peak construction, HS2 will support over 30,000 jobs with many thousands more throughout the supply chain. To design and build HS2 a huge range of works, goods and services from businesses of all sizes are required. Over the next two years there will be contracts requiring many different disciplines - from water and drainage systems to habitat creation and site catering, as well as traditional construction and engineering contracts.

In total it is estimated that there will be over 400,000 contract opportunities throughout the HS2 supply chain, including many thousands of opportunities to deliver goods, works and services to contractors on-site.

The four-day event will begin with three days of webinar sessions including updates on the HS2 programme, presentations by HS2 contractors, and webinars showcasing the work taking place across the project. The final day will offer potential contractors the opportunity to find out how to get involved via more than 1,000 15-minute one-to-one  meetings with HS2’s four main works civil contractors and the two stations construction partners.  

Mark Thurston, CEO of HS2 Ltd, said: “This year’s Meet the Contractor event at HS2 will be the biggest ever and we would like to see businesses from across the UK register for the opportunity to talk with our contractors.

“Experience from previous years shows that this helps put them in the best position to be a part of building Britain’s new high speed railway. HS2 will be one of the cornerstones of the country’s economic recovery as we work through the challenges of Covid-19, creating and sustaining long term jobs across all sectors.”