PressOn and Working on the HS2 Project
PressOn – a SME large format digital printing company based in Chatham, Kent, recently hosted a site visit followed by a roundtable discussion with HS2’s Chief Executive Mark Thurston and James Richardson of Costain Skanska (CSJV). The visit was an opportunity to discuss PressOn’s ongoing contract with HS2 to supply hoarding graphics and to discuss how other SME’s, like PressOn, could benefit from working on HS2 and other large infrastructure projects in Britain.
PressOn creates the large-scale digitally printed graphics for HS2’s hoardings along the Phase One route from London to the West Midlands, including at the site of the new Curzon Street Station in Birmingham, and at Euston station and University College London. PressOn also prints and installs graphics for Tideway and has also provided similar graphics for Crossrail.
Since working on the HS2 project PressOn has invested £250,000 in new state-of-the-art printing machinery and is set to take on more staff in January as a result of the contract.
Visiting the company’s factory in Chatham, HS2 CEO Mark Thurston said:
“The HS2 project is a once in a lifetime opportunity for firms to get involved and help deliver Britain’s new high-speed railway. PressOn is a great example of a business already on board that is really benefiting from the investment happening now, being able to sustain jobs and invest in equipment, increasing their capacity and enabling them to grow.”
PressOn is one of 2000 companies across the UK that is already working on HS2, and providing some of the 7,000 job roles that are already being supported by the project.
Managing Director of PressOn Ltd, Andy Wilson said:
“Large infrastructure projects like HS2 are vital for our business, allowing us to stay at the forefront of our industry. In recent years we have benefited from contracts with Crossrail and Tideway, and now our more recent contract with HS2 means we can sustain further investment in our business which will in turn sustains jobs for local people helping us deliver our growth plans for the future.”
The size of the HS2 project means that there will be thousands of opportunities within the HS2 supply chain, across many business sectors, requiring a wide range of capabilities, over a number of years that will be suitable for suppliers of all types and sizes. It is expected that every 10 direct tier one major works contracts will result in over 10,000 indirect supply chain opportunities.
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