The Rail Supply Group (RSG), working in partnership with Government, is delighted to announce that Transport for London (TfL) is the latest significant project sponsor to provide a simplified project reference scheme for suppliers seeking to export their services or products overseas. TfL’s scheme adds to existing project reference schemes set up by Network Rail (NR) and HS2 Ltd.
The UK is a global leader in rail; our experts, projects, and supply chains are among the most sophisticated, advanced, and innovative in the world. Businesses throughout the UK supplying the rail sector told the RSG that they are continually looking beyond the UK to global export markets and require a mechanism to more easily obtain project and product references. The RSG has brought the industry together to make this a reality. The opportunity to grow and export the UK’s supply chain overseas is a key component of the Rail Sector Deal, which the RSG is tasked to deliver.
Jake Rudham, Rail Supply Group Industry Export & Inward Investment Champion and
Marketing Director at Unipart Rail, said:
“At the RSG we’ve been working closely with Government and major project sponsors to significantly grow UK exports and help position rail businesses in the global rail market. As one of the most internationally recognised brands in the world, TfL is supporting UK rail business seeking opportunities overseas through its simplified project reference scheme.”
Philip Hewson, Head of Procurement and Supply Chain, Transport for London, said:
“We are delighted to support initiatives to improve UK exports. Our supply chain already supports thousands of jobs across the country and further afield. By helping our supply chain to grow their share of the global rail market we are not only encouraging the country’s economy to thrive, we are also supporting them so they can grow, driving further productivity and benefits for all.”
Clive Berrington, Group Commercial and Procurement Director, Network Rail, said:
“UK based rail expertise is recognised throughout the world. We wanted to make it simple for UK suppliers to reference their work with Network Rail in order to export their skills, services and products overseas. That’s why Network Rail set up its Supplier Reference scheme. I believe this will ultimately drive more innovation and further upskilling of our workforce.”
Robin Lapish, Senior Supply Chain Manager, HS2 Ltd., said:
“HS2 Ltd is pleased to support our supply chain to develop and prosper. Upon request, HS2 Ltd provides our Tier 1 suppliers with contract confirmation letters, in support of companies wishing to bid for work either on the HS2 project or elsewhere, including internationally. Suppliers can make a request at any time during their contract.”
Details of each organisation’s ‘Project Reference Scheme’ can be found below:
- TfL: for more information on the process for obtaining TfL references for overseas projects, please contact: supplierstrategy@tfl.gov.uk
- Network Rail; a one page guide outlining the process for the provision of supplier references for suppliers bidding for projects overseas. Contact: RSC&PProcurementOperations@networkrail.co.uk
- HS2 Ltd: Suppliers are encouraged to contact their HS2 Ltd Contract/Commercial Manager to formally request a Contract Confirmation Letter, which will confirm their work including scope, value and duration. HS2 Ltd is not able to provide materials that endorse, advocate or discuss supplier performance.
For more information, or to arrange an interview with RSG’s Export and Inward Investment Champion Jake Rudman, please contact:
Marion Gourlay 07801 301259 marion@transportpor.com
Notes to Editors:
- The Rail Supply Group (RSG) is the leadership body for the rail supply sector in the UK. Our aim is to strengthen the capability and competitiveness of the UK rail supply chain to grow business at home and abroad.
- Jake Rudham is the RSG’s Industry Champion for Export and Inward Investment. He is also Marketing Director for Unipart Rail. Key deliverables for the RSG’s Exports and Inward Investment Pillar are to continue developing the Export Reference Scheme and gain wider support across other clients and Tier 1 suppliers, develop an export mentoring scheme for first time exporters and complete opportunity and capability mapping to better enable government to support rail exports.
- The RSG works in partnership with Government to deliver the Rail Sector Deal. The RSG is currently working with Government to update the Rail Sector Deal in line with the Williams-Shapps White Paper.
- The RSG was tasked by Government in 2018 to deliver its Industrial Strategy: Rail Sector Deal and aims to strengthen the competitiveness of the rail supply industry at home and overseas.
- In July 2020, the RSG was invited by Government – the Departments for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and Transport (DfT) – to form a Taskforce to put in place measures to help the industry recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.
- The RSG’s core activities are: Digital Railway; Mobility and Data; Sustainable Railway; and Export and Inward Investment. The four pillars have three overarching initiatives: Midlands Rail Cluster, Skills & People and Industry Productivity.
- RSG Council includes Government representatives from the Department for Business, Enterprise and Industrial Strategy and Department for Transport, Sector Deal Industry Champions, co-opted suppliers, trade associations, client representatives and trade union representatives. The secretariat for RSG is provided by the Department for Transport.
- The Chair of RSG is Philip Hoare, President Atkins – SNC Lavalin, and the Vice-Chair is Anna Ince, CEO Resonate.
