Grab your name badge, breakfast and start your networking early

All change in the Midlands rail industry

Across the Midlands there are plenty of projects for industry to be involved with, Midlands Rail Hub, HS2, and freight are just some of the major headline projects for heavy rail and in light rail, there are line expansions as well as upgrades of rolling stock and technology. Listen to Maria, Chief Executive at Midlands Connect explain the opportunities.

The role of Supply Chain in facing the CP7 Efficiency Challenge

• Shamit Gaiger OBE, Managing Director, West Coast Partnership Development
• Chris Breslin, Development Specialist – Placemaking & Regeneration Team, Network Rail
• Craig Wakeman, Head of HS2 & Strategic Partnerships, TfWM
  
  

Importance of rail freight in the Midlands

The Midlands plays a critical role in the UK’s economy with rail freight being a key component and delivery agent of this. Join Gregory March, Freight Business Development Manager at Network Rail as he discusses the importance and diverse nature of the Midland’s rail freight activity, ranging from supporting large scale Nationally critical infrastructure projects such as HS2, to the movement of domestic goods and development of emerging new markets. The session will also focus on some of the key considerations around rail freight when developing and expanding the Network.

• Rich Johnson, Rail Engineering Manager, Kier Group
• Chris Atkins, Programme Manager, Network Rail
• Andrew Dugdale - Market Director (Engineering), SYSTRA
• Michelle Flint - Discipline Lead (Systems), SYSTRA

Grab a coffee, mid morning snack and a fist full of business cards during the first networking opportunity of the day

This event chaired by Arup will discuss the opportunities and challenges associated with decarbonising rail rolling stock, with a particular focus on freight operators. This cross-sector panel will explore why electrification alone is insufficient and examine other solutions. We will highlight innovative proposals that underscore the complexity and potential of various energy solutions and discuss the role of energy and global stakeholders in this transition. We will draw insights from other transport sectors, identifying lessons learned and potential synergies. The discussion will also address strategic approaches and planning necessary to deliver on the Government’s decarbonisation target and operator business objectives. 

Panellists inlcude:

• Paul Long, Head of T&RS Engineering, Freightliner Group Ltd 
• James Alton, Senior Consultant, ARUP 
• Gregory March, Freight Business Development Manager, Network Rail
• Phil Smart, Assistant Policy Manager, Rail Freight Group
• Richard Carr, Technical & Innovation Director, Rail Industry Association
  

Apprentices are vital to the industry, but whats attracting them and whats keeping them within this railway family? You've nominated 5 apprentices to take to the stage and share their journey so we can see the rail industry through their eyes.

• Robert Stimson, Degree Apprentice Civils, Mott MacDonald
• Daniel McSharry, Assistant Signalling Design Engineer, Kilborn Consulting
• Millie Semple Commercial Procurement and Supply Chain Apprentice, HS2
• Adam Salum, Engineering Technician, Systra
• Haider Khan, Project Graduate, Amey

Collaboration in a new innovation age

The wider supply chain has a long history synonymous with driving innovation and helping to positively change asset delivery within the Railway. In CP7, Network Rail need that spirit even more so as it battles with changing financial landscapes and a more agile policies. This is a call to arms to re-drive the engineering innovation and curiosity in working collaboratively with these challenges. 

Trains to Cranes: HS2's stations in the West Midlands

Construction of Curzon St station started in January 2024 with main contractors MACE DRAGADOS forming a JV to move the station's development through many phases until it opens for passengers in 2029 creating a huge opportunity for suppliers now.

Join Dave, Project Client Director for Curzon Street and discover the vast requirements of this project and what opportunities exist for a diverse range of suppliers.

Grab your lunch, talk to the speakers about how you can help with their challenges and network with new customers

The Procurement Act significantly impacts the supply chain by making public procurement processes more transparent, accessible to a wider range of suppliers, particularly smaller businesses, and by introducing stricter oversight mechanisms, ultimately aiming to improve efficiency and value for money within the public sector supply chain; key changes include simplifying bidding processes, creating a debarment system to exclude unsuitable suppliers, and placing greater emphasis on social value considerations when awarding contracts. .Join the discussion to understand the key elements and how the Procurement Act will impact your business.

• Sol Tannir, Strategic Account Director, Social Value Portal
• Helen Taylor, Work Winning Director, Kier
• John Simons, Procurement Director, SCAPE

Combinating new technologies opens the door to much lower cost, greener, urban mass transit, offering smarter services to draw riders from their cars into efficient shared public transport. Designing and ‘installing’ (not constructing) the next generation of urban transit challenges conventional thinking, and offers remarkable opportunities to visionary transport authorities. Join John to understand the national and international opportunities for transit authorities, transit operators, and for investors and suppliers.

Steven manages an annual budget of £16m and around 200 members of staff across the Central Route. The team also manage the relationships with not only, the train operators and suppliers but also a footfall of around 1.2m customers every week. With projects pending such as improvement to stations across the Midlands, it is certainly an exciting time to be involved. Join Steven as he explains all.

Tom will share the successes of the West Midlands Rail Programme, a rail industry partnership delivering new stations across the region, and set out the vision of the West Midlands Rail Executive and set out his exciting plans for the future, including the future role within a GBR context, how the WMCA Mayor and Integrated Settlement is an opportunity for greater local accountability and what are our immediate priorities.