UK: The Railway Industry Association is to develop a Nations & Regions network to enhance its activities outside London. The six areas will cover Scotland, Wales & Western, Northern Ireland, North, Midlands & Eastern and London & South.
Rail businesses will be able to draw on RIA resources in their own region or nation, including lobbying, market intelligence, events, networking and meetings. Physical offices are not envisaged, but RIA plans to work with partners to develop in-person events and will collaborate with local bodies to avoid any duplication of existing work.
As an example, RIA North will build on the current Northern Rail Industry Leaders organisation, with NRIL feeding into RIA North’s activities.
‘We are announcing a plan which takes RIA on to the next stage of its development’, said Chief Executive Darren Caplan on September 30. ‘Members have been telling us in recent years that they would like us to enhance the work we do outside of London. So whilst we will of course continue to provide intelligence and engage and lobby at the national level, we clearly need to up our game when it comes to developing a UK nations and regions network beyond the capital.
‘This development will allow us to provide even stronger support to our members and the rail supply community, whether nationally or in their area. It is also important we roll this out right now, as decision-making and influencing is becoming increasingly devolved, whether through Network Rail’s regional businesses, or the increasing importance of regional and national parliaments and combined authorities.’
