Shropshire companies to bid for HS2 contracts

HS2 Ltd, the company set up to drive forward the plans for the massive high speed rail project, held its first supply chain conference in London yesterday, with another to take place in Manchester next Thursday.

And companies from Bishops Castle, Bridgnorth, Shrewsbury and Telford are among those vying for more than £10 billion worth of contracts which are on offer at the events.

Four Telford firms were attending the conference, including shelving and racking company Link 51, civil engineering consultancy Freyssinet, steel fabrication company Fabweld Steel Products, which specialises in drain covers, and building consultants Francis Bradshaw Partnership.

Another consultancy firm, Seabright Consulting in Shrewsbury, is also hoping to scoop contracts at the conferences, as will Bridgnorth-based long reach excavator specialists WM Plant Hire, and Charles Ransford & Son in Bishops Castle, which supplies timber products including fencing.

In total more than 80 companies from throughout the region are registered for the two conferences, representing a total combined workforce of the more than 150,000 people.

High Speed Two will be Europe's biggest construction project, linking eight of Britain's 10 biggest cities, with the HS2 Ltd estimating that it will eventually support more than 100,000 jobs around the country – although the project has also faced substantial opposition.

Fabweld managing director Richard Hilton said: "We already work on major infrastructure projects around the UK, including National Grid, on the London Power Tunnels and the major transformation of Birmingham New Street Station.

"This event will see us demonstrating our success at delivering on major contracts and allow us to showcase both the innovation and expertise we have at Fabweld Steel Products. HS2 is a major opportunity for us, and we're looking forward to seeing how we could become part of one of the biggest infrastructure projects ever planned for the UK."

HS2 chief executive Simon Kirby said: "Building HS2 is a massive, long-term project; one that offers huge opportunity for large and small companies right across the country.

"To construct it; and then bring it to life will require a vast range of skills and expertise, some of which we have and some we'll need to develop. Put simply, HS2 is a huge transport, investment and economic opportunity.

"We are also determined to build on Crossrail's success where 97 per cent of contracts were placed with UK-based firms.

"So, I am extremely pleased that so many firms have already shown an interest in helping to deliver HS2. I would encourage all firms large or small to get involved."

See also: Three Shropshire firms bid for a part in HS2.