Information sessions will show SMEs how to Get into Rail

SMEs looking to "Get into Rail" can take on all the information they need from a series of sessions delivered by the Birmingham Centre for Rail Research & Education.

The course will be delivered on five successive Tuesdays in September and October from 10am to midday. The first four sessions will be online via Teams with the final one face-to-face.

The sessions are free for SME’s located within the West Midlands region, subject to confirmed eligibility and completion of project documentation.

The course is intended to enable participants to gain an understanding of the rail sector architecture, an awareness of Great British Railways and transition plans and an increased understanding of rail challenges and opportunities.

The sessions are aimed at businesses which are interested in diversification into Rail to achieve business scale-up and growth and SME’s which are engaged with Innovation and New Products (with particular emphasis on digitisation).

Session details

Session 1 (Sept 6): • Get into Rail Aims and Objectives • Introduction to Birmingham Centre for Rail Research & Education • Round Table introduction/discussion for SME’s • Rail Sector Challenges for 2022 – Great British Railways

Session 2 (Sept 13): • UK Rail Architecture • What is Rail Looking For?

Session 3 (Sept 20): • Rail Supply Chain Procurement • Sources of rail news/information • Rail associations/bodies

Session 4 (Sept 27): • Rail Quality standards o What they are o The awarding bodies o How to apply for accreditation

Session 5 (October 4): • Action Planning for Get into Rail • Developing your Business Plan

For further information, please contact Rachel Eade at r.e.m.eadembefrsa@bham.ac.uk