Businesses have been encouraged by the Transport Secretary to take advantage of the fantastic opportunities HS2 will bring.
Patrick McLoughlin was speaking to hundreds of companies at the HS2 Ltd supply chain roadshow in central London.
He said: "We have made the case for HS2. It will transform rail travel, is vital to Britain’s economic growth and has strong support from MPs of all parties. Now it’s time to gear up for delivery.
"With construction due to start next year following Royal Assent, major procurements are already underway with billions of pounds worth of contracts available. I want to make sure businesses across the UK are well placed to bid for work on HS2, as together we work to make this vital railway a reality."
The event gave small, medium and large companies an opportunity to find out more about the types of work packages available and advise firms on how they can bid for HS2 contracts.
HS2 Ltd has been running a series of supply chain roadshows across the country since May, meeting hundreds of suppliers. Business attending have come not just from the line of HS2 route but from all over the UK, including from Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.
HS2 will create some of the largest value contracts in UK construction history. The railway is expected to generate around 25,000 jobs during construction, as well as 2,000 apprenticeships.
