Strengthening Rail Support for the UK Supply Chain

With UK rail organisations facing more uncertainty than ever, never has there been a more important time for businesses to have access to high-quality support in this challenging market.  Recognising the strengths of both membership bodies, RBD Community and Railway Industry Association (RIA) have joined forces to offer a complete end-to-end membership offer.  This not only serves to simplify membership but will also create a robust, one-stop solution that will enable businesses to access the resources they need to thrive in this sector.

Companies taking advantage of the joint promotion will be able to access the valuable membership benefits of being part of the UKs leading rail trade association RIA; ‘the voice of UK rail’ in addition to all the profile raising and business support benefits provided by the RBD Community.

Darren Caplan, Chief Executive or RIA said: “It’s great that RIA and RBD Community are working together to enable UK SMEs to benefit from this offer. Both existing members of RIA and RBDC, and prospective joiners, will be able to access a wider variety of valuable networking events and services at an attractive price, offering real value-for-money for railway businesses which want to know more about what’s going on around the railway industry, inform campaigns to make the supply sector bigger and better, and to hear more about commercial opportunities too. RIA looks forward to working with RBDC on this exciting collaboration in the weeks and months ahead!”

David McLoughlin, CEO Rail Business Daily said: “Both membership organisations are independently recognised for the positive difference they make to businesses in rail.  By joining forces for the purpose of simplifying membership and working smarter through the power of collaboration, existing members and new members will now be able to take advantage of a discounted membership package.  Designed for UK SMEs, this offer is set to supercharge and bolster strategy for business growth and resilience.”

The benefits of taking a joint 12 month membership includes a £350 cost saving on a 12-month membership by joining both RIA and RBD Community, attendance at RBDC and RIA joint run/supported events, access to a greater variety and numbers of organisations for networking opportunities, wider support from a combined team of rail, technical, innovation and business experts from both organisations, in addition to the combined resources and efforts of both RBDC and RIA teams to promote and support the interests of businesses supplying the UK and international rail market.  For more information go to www.rbdc-ria-memberoffer.co.uk

1. About RIA: The Railway Industry Association (RIA) is the voice of the UK rail supply community. We help to grow a sustainable, high-performing, railway supply industry, and to export UK rail expertise and products. RIA has 300+ companies in membership in a sector that contributes £43 billion in economic growth and £14 billion in tax revenue each year, as well as employing 710,000 people. It is also a vital industry for the UK’s economic recovery, supporting green investment and jobs in towns and communities across the UK; for every £1 spent in rail, £2.50 is generated in the wider economy. RIA’s membership is active across the whole of railway supply, covering a diverse range of products and services and including both multi-national companies and SMEs (60% by number). www.riagb.org.uk