Highways England is calling on SMEs in the South West to get involved in supply chain opportunities for the A303 Stonehenge upgrade.

The A303 Amesbury to Berwick Down scheme was given the green light by the Secretary of State for Transport, Grant Shapps, last month.

According to an independent economic assessment commissioned by local authorities and the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership, improving the A303 corridor will help to create 21,000 jobs and deliver a £39billion boost in the long term.

Highways England said the project could also provide opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises locally and across the wider South West.

The A303 Stonehenge project team recently awarded contracts to construction firm Osborne for the preliminary works and Wessex Archaeology for the archaeological excavation work.

But Highways England said its main contractors would need their own supply chain, providing opportunities for sub-contractors and sub-consultants to bid for work.

In the next six months, the types of services and people needed will include plant, fencing, track matting, catering, cleaning, accommodation and hospitality, the road network organisation said.

David Bullock, Highways England project manager for the A303 Stonehenge scheme, said: “The scheme is not just limited to larger, national and international companies, and we’re keen for local and regional businesses to get the chance to work with the project.

“With our archaeology specialists and preliminary works contractors expected to start on site in late spring next year, there’s going to be some opportunities with those companies within the next six months or so.

"But there will be greater potential when our main contractor is appointed later in 2021, and we’d urge businesses to get in touch now, so we can start to help them prepare."

Highways England said it was "working closely" with the Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership, Business West and the Federation of Small Businesses, and has partnered nationally with the Supply Chain Sustainability School to provide free online training to businesses.

The idea of the training, it said, is to helps place smaller companies in a better position to tender for work on larger infrastructure projects, such as the A303 Stonehenge upgrade.

Paddy Bradley, Swindon and Wiltshire LEP Chief Executive, said: “These businesses are at the core of our economy and their engagement with the supply chain activity associated with this major infrastructure project is exactly what they need.

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“We want small businesses in our area to gain these contracts as strong and resilient enterprises create employment and security for families in our area.”

Ruth Lambert, Development Manager for the Federation of Small Businesses in Wiltshire, added: “This initiative to raise awareness of opportunities from the A303 scheme is a great idea and we will certainly be doing our bit to spread the word.

“We’d encourage small business owners across the county to think about how they might be able to get involved and benefit from the economic opportunities the project offers for our area.”

The major road network organisation said it would be hosting a Meet The Buyer event early in the new year, outlining the training available via the Supply Chain Sustainability School, including topics such as business ethics, waste resource, sustainable procurement and equality diversion inclusion.

For more details and updates on the A303 Stonehenge scheme, companies can email info@a303stonehenge.co.uk or visit highwaysengland.co.uk