Railway Industry Association joins Reshoring UK to promote the UK’s rail industry

19 August 2020

The Railway Industry Association, the UK trade body for the rail supply community, has joined Reshoring UK, a collaboration of industrial engineering associations focused on connecting manufacturers with trusted, accredited UK suppliers capable of delivering products and services that match their requirements.

The new partnership will support RIA members who are looking to fill the gaps in their supply chains or to support the creation of new ones, by connecting them with other companies in the UK.

Neil Walker, Exports Director at the Railway Industry Association (RIA), said: “The UK rail industry is already well recognised across the world for its innovation, expertise and ability to deliver effectively, supporting both our domestic rail network and other nations’ railways too. Yet, the results of an independent ComRes survey of rail business leaders at the end of 2019 found that more than half, 56%, felt that too little consideration was given for whether rail suppliers have a presence and support jobs in the UK. It is therefore vital that we continue to build up our domestic industry, whilst attracting foreign direct investment into the rail market, from overseas.

“That is why the Railway Industry Association is excited to be joining Reshoring UK, an organisation that brings rail suppliers with a UK presence together to create supply chains and develop an even stronger UK rail offer. We look forward to working with Reshoring UK and RIA members to deliver a growing, sustainable rail sector which provides growth, investment and export income for the benefit of UK plc.”

Baroness Burt of Solihull, Patron of Reshoring UK, said: “We are delighted to welcome the Railway Industry Association as a Partner in the Reshoring UK initiative. RIA will be an important contributor in the development of the network, to encourage engagement with our manufacturers to recognise the strength of the skills and innovation available to the manufacturing supply chain in the UK.”

Notes to Editors

 

  1. About Reshoring UK: Reshoring UK is a unique collaboration of leading industrial engineering associations to assist manufacturers to connect with trusted, accredited suppliers capable of delivering products and services that match their requirements. www.reshoring.uk
  2.  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 £36 billion in economic growth and £11 billion in tax revenue each year, as well as employing 600,000 people—more than the workforce of Birmingham. It is also a vital industry for the UK’s economic recovery, supporting green investment and jobs in towns and communities across the UK. 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). RIA works to promote the importance of the rail system to UK plc, to help export UK expertise around the globe and to share best practice and innovation across the industry.