Pipeline visibility charter for suppliers

A Work Pipeline Visibility Charter aimed at UK businesses supplying services or products to the rail sector has been launched by the Rail Supply Group.

It is backed by Network Rail, HS2 Ltd, the Department for Transport, and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. 

RSG is calling on businesses supplying the rail industry to commit to the Charter. Signatories will be giving their commitment to sharing their work pipeline information with suppliers.

Recent research found that by making work pipelines visible to suppliers, businesses could see significant improvements in productivity as suppliers would then have sufficient time to plan work delivery more efficiently. Equally as important, they could also commit to sharing project work pipelines through the supply chain. 

Darren James, Keltbray and RSGs Work Pipeline Charter lead, said: “This is one step along the way towards increasing work pipeline visibility across the industry and hard-wiring this to a step change in productivity and lower-carbon solutions.”

National Skills Academy for Rail Chief Executive Neil Robertson said: “Providing certainty on work profile allows for a short-term ‘return on investment’ from staff retention, to help maintain the ongoing availability of staff to continue working in the rail sector.”