RIA is the voice of the UK rail supply community; the national trade association for UK-based suppliers to the railway industry.
Established in 1875, RIA has over 360 member companies from across the supply chain, over 60% of which are small or medium sized enterprises (SMEs). Our member companies represent a large proportion of the rail industry by turnover, reflect a great diversity of disciplines within the sector and cover the lengths and breadths of the UK.
We support the delivery of a bigger and better rail industry, representing the sector as an essential generator of economic growth, jobs and investment, supporting a low carbon form of mass transit for communities across the UK.
Our highly-regarded, passionate, expert team works on behalf of our members, to shape the industry through:
• Exporting and international opportunities in rail
• Technical, environmental and safety developments in rail
• Innovation, technology and rail research
• Rail Policy in the UK and Europe
• Public Affairs and lobbying on rail issues
RIA engages throughout the year with hundreds of stakeholders, including Ministers and civil servants in Government, in particular at the Departments for Transport (DfT); Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS); and International Trade (DIT). We also work with all major rail clients across the UK. These include: Network Rail, Transport Scotland, Transport for Wales, HS2, Transport for London (TfL), East West Rail, and many others. We are active in all regions and nations of the UK, hosting events and advocating both for our members and for the wider rail supply community.
Our members also benefit from access to daily online updates and about 100 quality networking events per year, plus preferential hire of our rooms and event space in London.
RIA collaborates with a range of industry partners to help drive positive change in our sector, on areas such as decarbonisation, innovation, equality and diversity or supporting SMEs.
Our
Articles of Association set out how RIA is governed by its members through a Board of rail supply chain leaders from the various sub sectors such as rolling stock, infrastructure, SMEs and consultants.
Awards
RIA has won several awards including:
- Trade Association of the Year | Trade Association Awards 2024
- Diversity & Inclusion Award | Trade Association Awards 2024
- Best Long Standing Association Event - RIA Innovation Conference 2023 |The Association Excellence Awards 2023
- The Miles Smith Insurance Group Leadership Award - Darren Caplan |Trade Association Best Practice Awards 2022
- Diversity & Inclusion Award | Trade Association Best Practice Awards 2022
- Best Lobbying Campaign - Rail Decarb |The Association Excellence Awards 2022
- Leadership Award - Darren Caplan |Trade Association Forum Awards 2022
- Best Equality, Diversity or Inclusion Campaign |Highly Commended 2022
- Diversity in the Workplace, won jointly with Women in Rail | Railway Technology Awards 2021
- Best Lobbying Campaign or Advancement of a Cause During Covid-19 Under 500 Members |Bronze The Association Excellence Awards 2021
- In-House Team of the Year | PRCA Public Affairs Awards 2020
- Membership Event of the Year <400 | Memcom Excellence Awards 2020
- Overall Best Association, Under 1000 Members | Association Excellence Awards 2019
- Conference of the Year for RIA's Annual Conference | Trade Association Forum Awards 2019
- Conference of the Year for RIA's Innovation Conference | Trade Association Forum Awards 2018
Our History
RIA is one of the oldest trade associations in the UK, and is almost as old as the railway itself. It was set up in 1875 as the Locomotive Manufacturers' Association.
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