The Challenge
Twelve years ago Wales had world-class engineering capability but only limited participation in the UK rail industry. Without a major rolling-stock manufacturer, many suppliers had little visibility of rail procurement and limited confidence to invest.
The Intelligence
Mike Gillard worked alongside Welsh Government, industry and major rail organisations to connect investment opportunities with Welsh capability. This included supporting CAF’s evaluation of Welsh locations, bringing major buyers such as HS2, Bombardier, Alstom, Hitachi and Transport for London directly to Welsh suppliers, and promoting the wider opportunities created by the South Wales Metro and GCRE.
The Outcome
CAF’s Newport facility became a major industrial anchor. Supplier engagement, infrastructure investment and the development of testing and innovation capability helped strengthen a wider Welsh rail ecosystem and improve the visibility of Welsh businesses within the UK rail market.