BUSINESSES in Solihull need to seize the opportunities, jobs and investment offered by HS2 if the region is to bounce back stronger from the Covid-19 pandemic.
That was the rallying cry from West Midlands Mayor Andy Street as he hosted the UK’s first and only HS2 supply chain summit.
An online audience of hundreds, representing a wide range of businesses and industries from the across the region, also heard from HS2 chief executive Mark Thurston.
HS2 will create more than 400,000 contracts to businesses during construction of the line between Birmingham and London and the message to the summit was clear – West Midlands firms need to act now to grab their share.
The country’s largest infrastructure investment project has already supported 12,000 jobs in the West Midlands – with development under way on the Curzon Street and Interchange Station sites in Birmingham and Solihull.
As construction and development ramps up there will be many more opportunities for a wide range of businesses and industries.
Councillor Ian Courts, West Midlands Combined Authority portfolio holder for environment, energy and HS2 and leader of Solihull Council said: “We have the UK’s largest infrastructure investment taking place on our doorstep and I would strongly urge local businesses, and not just those in the engineering and construction sectors, to take a close look at how they can work with HS2.
“As well as supporting jobs through the supply chain, HS2 is also triggering wider benefits for the region through the further investment in transport including our new Metro lines and other new developments in the pipeline at Solihull’s UK Central and Birmingham Eastside.”
West Midlands Mayor Andy Street, who called the summit, added: “HS2 has a critical role to play in the West Midlands’ economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.
“Infrastructure projects help guarantee work for the construction sector, allowing companies to create and protect local jobs, and these projects don’t come any bigger than HS2. It is, quite simply, a monumental economic opportunity.”
