HS2 gears up to host biggest ever contractor engagement event

HS2 is gearing up to host its biggest ever ‘meet the contractor’ event, where firms can slug it out to win packages worth up to £160m.

Businesses from across the UK are being invited to register for two online events, which will be attended by all seven of the £100bn railway’s main contractors and 16 subcontractors.

The events include sessions where firms can hear more about what is on offer and how to bid with more than 250 contracts up for grabs.

The first event will focus on stations, including the line’s £570m Curzon Street in Birmingham

More than 1,700 one-to-one meetings will also be available, along with networking sessions where up to 50 participants can meet other firms and speak as a group with HS2 contractors.

The first event, taking place between 15 and 17 November, will focus on contracts for the construction of HS2’s stations.

The second event, scheduled for 29 November to 1 December, will be for main works civils jobs.

The railway’s chief commercial officer Ruth Todd said the events will be “bigger and better” than last year’s sessions, which were attended by around 6,200 people with 800 on-to-one meetings.

Registration for the event has now opened and can be accessed here.

Stations which are planned include the line’s terminus at Euston, Old Oak Common, both in London, Curzon Street in Birmingham and Solihull Interchange.

Other major projects include the central London tunnels leading out of the capital from Euston, the 16km Chiltern tunnels in Buckinghamshire and the Colne Valley viaduct connecting the two underground stretches.

Phase 2a of the railway from Birmingham to Crewe received royal assent in February and is currently undergoing early enabling works.