HS2 has laid out details of how it expects to work with contractors and suppliers at a major conference in London

HS2 Woodesford

The HS2 Supply Chain Conference outlined details of the civil engineering packages which will be on offer for the first phase of the £43bn project.

The contract structure for HS2 will be split into three main areas covering the length of the route for phase 1, with a separate area covering Euston. Each area will have a construction contract value of approximately £3bn, and will be split into three packages worth approximately £1bn each.

Area North will cover the route from Birmingham city centre south and will include two surface route packages and one station build package.

Area Central will include three civil engineering packages covering the central 110km of the route.

Area South will include tunnelling and works from the Chilterns to central London and includes the longest single tunnel and viaduct covering the Colne Valley.

HS2 said it is still working on the details for a package for the Euston station area.

Speaking at the conference HS2 commercial director Beth West said: “We want suppliers to be involved early, we want them to be engaged, and we want them to be a success.”

West, who has previously worked at TfL added: “We want to buy what the market wants to sell, we want to be your favourite client, because we want to be good to work with and be collaborative, fair and consistent.”

“In return we want people who will bring us a world class approach to safety and innovation during the delivery stage and not during just the pitch stage.

“We need to provide you with packages which your teams are going to want to work on.”

West said that for some aspects of the build such as the Birmingham stations combined into one large package if it is deemed to be the best option for the development.

HS2 also expects 60% of the contract opportunities arising in the supply chain to be awarded to small and medium-sized enterprises.

HS2 also committed to offering 2,000 apprenticeships to provide specialist vocational training to allow the project to have a lasting influence on the construction industry.

HS2 map

HS2 route details

HS2 route details