Team UK

There are several organisations in support of the UK rail industry’s international growth abroad. The below is not an exhaustive list and is subject to change:

Export Finance (UKEF)
(https://www.gov.uk/uk-export-finance)

UKEF is the UK’s export credit agency and a government department, working alongside the Department for Business and Trade as an integral part of its strategy and operations by ensuring no viable UK export fails for lack of finance or insurance, doing that sustainably and at no net cost to the taxpayer. UKEF supports exports for any size of company and across all sectors, from capital goods to services and intangibles such as intellectual property. Specifically, UKEF helps UK companies to:

• Win export contracts by providing attractive financing terms to their buyers.
• Fulfil contracts by supporting working capital loans.
• Get paid by insuring against buyer default.

The UK Rail Research and Innovation Network (UKRRIN)
(https://www.ukrrin.org.uk)

The UKRRIN has been established to deliver a step change in collaboration between the rail industry, universities, small and medium-sized business (SMEs), and infrastructure owners to deliver innovations. There are plans in place to grow the network, building on the existing strong Centres of Excellence:

• Digital Systems (led by University of Birmingham, in partnership with Lancaster University, Imperial College London, Swansea University, University of Hull and University of Derby).
• Rolling Stock (led by University of Huddersfield, in partnership with Newcastle University, Loughborough University, University of Cambridge, University of Bristol, Brunel University and University of Nottingham) and...
• Infrastructure (led by University of Southampton, in partnership with the University of Nottingham, the University of Sheffield, Loughborough University and Heriot-Watt University).

The Rail Forum
(https://www.railforum.uk/)

The Rail Forum is a national industry body with strong regional connections including supporting the nationally and internationally important rail supply chain cluster across the Midlands. With over 360 members providing products and services across all aspects of the industry, the Rail Forum actively supports the national rail agenda and strategy, encouraging collaboration, promoting members’ capabilities, leading a number of regional skills initiatives and supporting innovation and export priorities. The Rail Forum is owned and governed by its members with a Board drawn from member companies and provides services offering to members as well as international partners.

• Providing a collective voice to key stakeholders for members.
• Supporting inward and outward trade missions and export initiatives.
• Providing specific opportunities for members to work collaboratively to secure new business.
• Acting as an honest broker with key clients.
• Providing unrivalled networking opportunities.
• Facilitating collaborative stands at trade exhibitions.
• Promoting the industry to a global market.
• Driving a number of collaborative school engagement and skills development initiatives to ensure members can access the skills they need for the future.
• Offering a broad range of events across each calendar year – from business focused seminars and conferences to social and charity network events.

Rail Industry Association (RIA)
(https://www.riagb.org.uk)

The RIA is the voice of the rail supply community, representing over 360 members from across the supply chain. Established in 1875, RIA has over 360 member companies from across the supply chain, over 60% of which are small or medium sized enterprises (SMEs). Our member companies represent a large proportion of the rail industry by turnover, reflect a great diversity of disciplines within the sector and cover the lengths and breadths of the UK.

• Exporting and international opportunities in rail
• Technical, environmental and safety developments in rail
• Innovation, technology and rail research
• Rail Policy in the UK and Europe
• Public Affairs and lobbying on rail issues.

DBT Midlands
(great.gov.uk)

For rail related queries please contact Bill Smith at: bill.smith@businessandtrade.gov.uk

For projects in Africa please contact Shaan Padayachy at: shaan.padayachy@fco.gov.uk

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