A Yorkshire-based SME (small to medium enterprise) has been awarded a major contract working on High Speed Two (HS2), generating new jobs
Railway technology company 3Squared is working with one of HS2’s direct contractors, Skanska Costain Strabag JV (SCS JV), which is delivering the tunnelling programme for the route between London Euston and the M25.
The three-year contract will see the Sheffield company supplying its RailSmart software alongside some bespoke modules to form a supply chain management system, giving visibility of the complex freight supply chain and providing live performance, cost management information and operational control data in real-time.
As HS2 now has the go ahead to start building its new high-speed railway, the Main Works Civils Contractors (MWCCs) are leading the transition from scheme design and preparatory work to full detailed design and construction, and this progress has unlocked a huge amounts of new contract opportunities for the construction sector.
3Squared is now working on one of an estimated 400,000 supply chain contract opportunities that are being created for UK businesses and will support thousands of jobs on site and many more around the country.
This work package has meant that 3Squared will have expanded its workforce in 2020, creating thirteen new jobs at its head office in Sheffield, three of which were staff that have been employed following work placements or apprenticeships. It has also enabled 3Squared to further strengthen its relationship with local academia as it takes on 5 placement students who are all on their final degree year with Sheffield Hallam University.
HS2’s commercial and supply chain director, David Poole, said: “HS2 will play a key role in the UK’s economic recovery following the pandemic, and this contract award is just one of many that is helping create and sustain jobs around the country.
“Not only can HS2 support SMEs and regional economies near Phase One of the railway between the West Midlands and London, but it is also playing a pivotal role in the Government’s wider ‘levelling up’ agenda.”
