HSRIL Announce Leeds will Host 2018 Conference

HIGH SPEED RAIL INDUSTRY LEADERS WELCOME HS2 REPORT ON UNLOCKING BRITAIN’S POTENTIAL ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND ANNOUNCE LEEDS WILL HOST 2018 HSRIL CONFERENCE

• AS CONSTRUCTION ON HS2 PROGRESSES, IT IS BUILDING CONFIDENCE IN ALL UK REGIONS
• INTEGRAL TO A WIDER NETWORK, HS2 WILL REBALANCE THE UK ECONOMY AND DRIVE LONG-TERM PROSPERITY ACROSS THE UK
• HIGHLY REGARDED ANNUAL HSRIL CONFERENCE TO BE HELD IN LEEDS IN JUNE 2018

High Speed Rail Industry Leaders welcome HS2’s Getting the best out of Britain report published today. HS2 is the most important infrastructure project in the UK for decades and the rail industry is working to help secure the opportunities it brings for growth to areas across the country.

Commenting on the HS2 report HSRIL Director, Mike Napier said:

“To secure the best future for all parts of Britain, we need an economy that is balanced across our regions. HS2 is not only on track to transform Britain’s transport networks between many of Britain’s largest cities but as construction progresses, it is building confidence in regions across the country. As the report shows, HS2 is already generating new jobs, boosting skills and strengthening the UK construction and manufacturing supply chains beyond those places with dedicated HS2 stations. The potential is much greater still as the construction programme takes shape.

“HS2 is helping regions develop their specialisms and realise more of their potential, acting as a catalyst to narrow the gap in economic performance between the UK regions and drive long-term prosperity. HSRIL believe that HS2, as part of a wider transport network in the Midlands and the north, will grow pools of talent and enterprise in the regions and is the only way to rebalance the economy and take pressure off the south east.
“Therefore, HSRIL are delighted to announce the annual HSRIL conference will be held in Leeds in June 2018 with a focus on how we realise the economic opportunities of HS2.”

The highly regarded annual HSRIL conference, hosted by broadcaster Steph McGovern, attracts hundreds of delegates each year. Through a programme of panel discussions, keynote speeches at Ministerial level, and networking opportunities, the conference brings key players together as we realise the potential of HS2.

With a young and enterprising population, access to the HS2 network will help areas such as the Leeds City Region realise its ambition for good growth. The 2018 HSRIL conference in Leeds will be an opportunity for political and industry stakeholders to discuss how the opportunities HS2 offers the UK regions are central to driving economic prosperity for the whole country.

Commenting on Leeds hosting the established rail conference, Leeds City Council Leader Councillor Judith Blake said:

“HS2 represents an unprecedented opportunity for Leeds and will help enhance the attractiveness of the Leeds City Region to skilled workers and strengthen the supply of talent to grow our knowledge economy.

“We are working with city region partners and businesses on the strategies to unlock this enormous potential and HS2 is key to our approach. We look forward to welcoming delegates of the HSRIL conference to Leeds as we make this vision a reality.”