RIA will be organising a series of meetings between HS2’s Preferred Bidders, and SMEs wanting to work with them, for the Operational Telecoms and Security Systems and Tunnel & Open Route (M&E) system packages, with the two contracts worth over £300 million each. BSIA are working with RIA to promote the opportunity as widely as possible throughout the rail industry and security sector and beyond.

Suppliers looking to meet with the HS2 preferred bidders should already have been invited to complete an Expression of Interest form which needed to be submitted by 9th June 2021.

Darren Caplan, Chief Executive of the Railway Industry Association, said: “With the main civil works of HS2 Phase One getting underway, it is fantastic to be providing an opportunity to put rail businesses together in order to support this important project. HS2 will create jobs and investment across the UK, supporting businesses and communities along the route and beyond, supporting the economy as we look to bounceback post-Coronavirus.”

Mike Reddington, Chief Executive, British Security Industry Association, said: “The BSIA is delighted to be working with the RIA as a trade association partner to support ‘Meet the Bidder’. This is a fantastic opportunity to provide our members with the chance to be involved in one of the major infrastructural projects of the last 20 years and we anticipate significant expressions of interests to be drawn from our sector.”