Alstom has reaffirmed its commitment to the UK rail supply chain, revealing annual spending of more than £720 million with British businesses and setting out plans to deepen supplier collaboration at a recent major industry event in Derby.
The rail manufacturer and service provider brought together more than 200 stakeholders for its Supplier Day and Corporate Social Responsibility Awards, where it outlined its market outlook and emphasised the need for closer, more strategic partnerships across the sector.
The company highlighted the scale of its UK footprint, noting that it works with almost 1,300 British suppliers and that nearly 90% of its total spend over the past year has remained within the UK. Around a third of that expenditure has gone to SMEs, which also make up approximately half of its supplier base. In total, Alstom estimates that its procurement activity supports nearly 11,000 jobs nationwide.
The event also underlined the international reach of the UK supply chain, with domestic suppliers exporting around £100 million worth of goods and services to Alstom operations in 37 countries over the last year.
More than 120 key suppliers and customers from the UK and Ireland attended, alongside government and industry representatives.
Central to the event discussions was a renewed focus on building a more resilient and agile supply chain through collaboration, innovation and long-term agreements.
Rob Whyte, managing director at Alstom UK, said: “We are proud that the vast majority of our spend for our UK operations is with British businesses, supporting thousands of jobs and driving economic value across the regions. As we look ahead, our focus is on deepening these relationships – working more strategically with our suppliers to improve competitiveness, reduce time to market and deliver greater certainty through models such as long-term agreements.”
He added: “Ultimately, delivering the next generation of sustainable mobility in the UK and beyond depends on a strong, innovative and aligned supply chain. By working together, we can unlock shared growth, create lasting social value, and ensure the rail sector continues to play a vital role in supporting communities and economic development across the country.”
Nine companies were also recognised in the firm’s UK and Ireland Supplier CSR Awards, celebrating contributions to health and wellbeing, economic growth, climate action and equal opportunity in line with the UK Government’s Social Value Model.