Several Black Country SMEs have joined forces to tender for contracts on the next generation of high speed trains.

Led by West Bromwich-based Millennium Manufacturing Group, this group of advanced engineering companies is collaborating in the hopes of supplying high-value components needed for rail vehicle manufacture.

The cluster group will work collaboratively in tendering for contracts stemming from the £2.7bn fleet of 54 HS2 trains.

Other companies in the cluster include precision engineering firm Steadfast Solutions in Oldbury, specialist toolmakers Glenbeth Tool & Gauge, and Futura Design. The latter provides digital design, production testing and prototype modelling.

These local firms have worked closely with Sandwell Council’s Business Growth Team in supply chain development, process improvement support and accessing manufacturers’ funding streams. We have supported them in setting up meetings with stakeholders and original equipment manufacturers, as well as fostering engagement with train manufacturers, rail vehicle designers and their procurement teams.

Now the group is hoping to win prestigious engineering contracts relating to HS2, Midland Metro and Very Light Rail. The products and services they could supply include onboard electronic solutions, lightweight metal materials, composites, specialist product design, rolling stock components and intelligent digital transport systems.

John Faulkner, joint managing director of Millennium Manufacturing Group, said: “We’ve always found Sandwell Council’s support for manufacturers and its engineering supply chain initiatives have given us great impetus. Their efforts in encouraging supply groups to work together at the concept design and pre-award stage of the high speed train contract has proved to be invaluable to small and medium sized firms like ours.

“Pivotal to our success has been Sandwell Council’s visionary formation of SME clusters to explore the local economic, environmental and sustainable procurement benefits achieved through collaborative work.”

We are told the preferred bidders selected by High Speed (Two) Ltd to build the new rolling stock (including CAF Rail, Bombardier, Alstom, Hitachi and Siemens) are supportive of this unique cluster approach.

Our Business Growth Team also worked with the group to boost the individual companies’ buying skills, productivity and cost-competitiveness through, for example, recommendation joint procurement of materials, improving negotiation skills and encouraging spend mapping. All these measures should not only improve their chances of winning work, but also make the contracts more profitable while reducing material mileage and carbon footprints.

Steve Moseley, managing director of Steadfast Solutions said: “We’re delighted to be part of this new rail industry approach. The group are establishing opportunities to inter-trade and identify potential process improvements that contribute towards cost-savings and a competitive collaborative bid.

“The effect of the new unified businesses will generate a high demand for materials, engineering innovations and sub-contract processes which filter further down the supply chain, which in turn will create training opportunities, and generate and sustain jobs”.

High Speed (Two)’s motto is ‘HS2: an engine for growth’ and we hope this collaborative initiative will help to realise the vision, by securing valuable contracts that will boost growth within the cluster group firms.

If you think your business could benefit from the group’s engineering expertise, please email using our contact form or call 0121 569 2121.