Our value of ‘one team spirit’ focuses on building strong relationships and commits to providing once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for our Supply Chain.
Our supply chain
We support local businesses, communities, and regional economies, working with several major contractors who rely on smaller suppliers to deliver services across HS2 Ltd. Many businesses are often local to our sites, supporting local economic development and reducing our environmental impact.
Our varied work requires a wide range of skills from across the construction, infrastructure, engineering, and logistics sectors. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) form part of our supply chain and this diversification ensures that our supply chain is robust, flexible, and innovative.
We are committed to and have been successful in building a supply chain that reflects the communities in which they operate and were awarded the HS2 Minority-owned Business Champion award in July, 2022. We place a strong focus on ensuring small businesses have every opportunity to compete for and win our subcontracts by providing access to free training through the HS2 Supply Chain Sustainability School. Our commitment to the SME agenda is demonstrated through 25% of our annual procurement spend in 2024 was directly with small and medium enterprises (SME’s).
Responsible Procurement
We are committed to ensuring that the procurement of works and materials achieves value for money, while generating local socio-economic benefits and minimising the environmental impact of our work. We promote sustainability and continuous improvement, measuring end-to-end quality, innovation, and performance of our Supply Chain.
Become a Supplier
We are looking for supply chain partners aligned to our Core Values and working practices. With an integrated, safe, ethical, and value-driven supply chain, we can successfully deliver on our HS2 commitments. We want our supply chain to choose to work with us and to be a ‘client of choice.’
To join the SCS supply chain and register to bid for subcontract opportunities, please complete the registration form via CompeteFor.
Working with our Supply Chain
CompeteFor is a supply chain portal designed to engage and develop the supply chains of major infrastructure projects such as HS2, Thames Tideway Tunnel and Crossrail, in a way that is designed to complement existing procurement processes.
Developed for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the portal connects buyers and suppliers and promotes opportunities to local businesses and small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs).
To keep up to date with all the latest SCS JV opportunities visit our CompeteFor page:
Procurement Process
We set out to and have delivered a procurement process that is class leading and sets new standards. Through the delivery of ethical, transparent, fair procurement we comply with our Code of Conduct, Antibribery Policy and Probity Plan.
In November 2024, we retained our Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) Corporate Ethics Mark for the second consecutive year, demonstrating we have taken proactive steps, in the last 12 months, to safeguard against unethical conduct in procurement and supply management.
All members of our supply chain must demonstrate that they meet our required levels of competence and compliance.
As part of the UK requirements for operating on Europe’s largest infrastructure project, we require that our supply chain meet our standard requirements for Financial, Health and Safety, Environmental, Quality, etc.
We use the Common Assessment Standard (CAS) accreditation, which is used across the UK as a form of business assurance. The CAS can be certified by FIVE recognised assessment bodies: Achilles, CHAS, CQMS, Constructionline or the Steel Construction Certification Scheme (SCCS). The CAS reduces the administrative burden on our supply chain as they don’t have to complete a manual pre-qualification for every opportunity we publish.
Benefits of Common Assessment Standard (CAS) accreditation
For the Supplier
For SCS JV
They obtain accreditation which may allow them to win more work
We save time and resources having to complete a PQQ on an awarded subcontractor
They fast track through the assurance process on any work with the MWCC
We improve the performance of our supply chain
They don’t have to complete multiple lengthy questionnaires (PQQ)
We upskill the industry and push best practice of obtaining CAS accreditations.
They improve their operations by putting in effective processes and procedures to pass the audit
We can analyse CAS data and work alongside supply chain to mitigate potential risks.
Provides an update on overall project progress, and targeted learning in support of cross functional initiatives, objectives and plans for the appointed supply chain’s development.
We target three to four briefings a year with each focusing on a sustainability topic important to SCS JV and HS2. These are held on Teams, circa 90mins.
Supply Chain ONE TEAM Events
These events provide a valuable opportunity for reflection, recognition of our achievements, and the celebration of our collective progress. Active participation enables us to share insights and engage in discussions on how we can collaboratively enhance our commercial, safety, and environmental practices, defining the path toward sustainable excellence and leaving a legacy we can all be proud of.
We intend to hold at least one Supply Chain ONE TEAM Event each year, where we reward and recognise the excellent performance of our supply chain through the SCS Supply Chain Awards.
Please see News and events for details of these ONE TEAM Events from 2024.
28.3. Supplier Briefings
28.3.1. Provides an update on overall project performance, and targeted learning in support of cross functional initiatives, objectives and plans for the appointed supply chain’s development.
28.3.2. Target – three to four briefings a year with each focusing on a sustainability topic important to SCS JV and HS2.
Programs and platforms:
SCS JV Supply Chain Enterprise Academy
The SCS JV Supply Chain Enterprise Academy is a free learning and development program designed to upskill the Construction industry and stimulate supply chain development. It is an industry leading initiative which aims to promote a legacy of learning and skills development in the infrastructure sector and to develop resilience and growth within our supply chain.
We support skills development by providing a structured programme of learning delivered by experts from both within our business and from our strategic partners. The programme aims to increase supplier performance by briefing them on our values and the key requirements that will help them win future work. Topics include the ‘Lean’ approach to improvement; commercial awareness; creating social value; carbon management and developing & financing an effective innovation strategy.
The Supply Chain Sustainability School (SCSS) is a free learning environment with over 1,000 of CPD accredited resources to upskill the supply chain working within, or aspiring to work within, the built environment sector. Since SCS JV partnered with the school in April 2022, we’ve been actively involved in encouraging our suppliers to use the SCSS’s online learning resources to improve their knowledge of sustainability and their supply chains, thus enabling us to leave a supply chain legacy that HS2 demands.
The school’s innovative approach helps businesses develop a unique sustainability action plan tailored to what they do, who they do it for, the level of sustainability impacts in their trade and their current level of competence. Once completed, a supplier can re-assess and access an updated action plan to support continuous improvement.
Together with the other major Main Works Civils and Station Contractors, HS2 and SCS JV has created a programme to improve sustainability skills and performance of the wider supply chain contributing to the UK’s largest infrastructure project. TheHS2 Supply Chain School uses a collaborative approach to learning and competence linked to HS2 strategic objectives. It also rationalises the approaches used to manage and monitor complex supply chain sustainability performance.
Opportunities
To view an opportunity, simply click on this link.
We use a range of engagement opportunities such as, meetings, workshops, and Supply Chain ONE TEAM Events. Representatives from HS2, SCS JV and our major contractors attend these events to discuss our projects and upcoming supply chain opportunities.
Celebrate and recognise the contribution of our supply chain, taking stock of what we have achieved together so far; and look ahead, as our project enters the next phase, consider how we deliver on our shared commitment to prioritise safety, foster innovation, and achieve sustainable excellence.
Over 120 representatives from across our national supply chain gathered together to collaborate, strengthen professional connections, and secure a lasting legacy.
