The Midlands is the Place to be for Rail Business Investment

Date posted: May 8, 2019

A presentation being given by a man to a group of people

The Midlands Engine supported by the Rail Alliance BCRRE are hosting an event at Railtex 2019 at the NEC in Birmingham on Wednesday 15 May – “Promoting Global Excellence in Rail” which will showcase the region’s growing rail cluster and why companies are choosing to base operating and manufacturing facilities in the Midlands Region.

Speakers include Adrian Shooter, Chairman (Vivarail), Robin Lapish, Supply Chain Team Lead,(HS2), Wendy Richards Deputy Head of Transport Infrastructure at Department for International Trade (DIT), Alex Burrows, Managing Director (BCRRE and Rail Alliance), Mark Goldby (Advanced Manufacturing Specialist for the Midlands Engine) and Toby Rackcliff Strategic Lead, (Transport for the West Midlands).

Stretching from Derbyshire to Warwickshire, with most of the major UK railway lines running through it, the Midlands sits at the very heart of the UK economy. Home to over 10 million people, 20 universities and 440,000 businesses, it is the largest UK economic area outside of London and the South East, with an annual economic value-added figure of over £200 billion, and the first stopping point of the flagship HS2 Programme.

The Midlands Engine brings together local councils, combined authorities, local enterprise partnerships (LEPs), universities and businesses across the region, actively working with the government to create the right skills, infrastructure and innovation to bring investment, growth and employment to the region. It is ultimately about making the Midlands a powerful engine for economic growth.

The UK rail industry is a growing market with over £200 billion worth of infrastructure opportunities and the Midlands is seeing a lot of travel-focused businesses being drawn to the region.

Mark Goldby, Rail Specialist for the Midlands Engine explains why rail businesses are investing in the Midlands:

The region is at the heart of new UK rail projects including the £55bn HS2 network, mainline electrification, station redevelopments and extensions to light railway networks, along with the expansion of freight infrastructure. It is also an important centre for the development and deployment of new rail propulsion systems such as hydrogen and battery power. The Midlands, given its location and strong rail cluster, is the ideal location in the UK to invest in.

Organisations wishing to attend this event to find out more (limited spaces), please register your interest here.