Latest figures show SMEs securing £3.6bn worth of orders – a 45% share of work on the route.

Firms of all sizes have benefited with £1.9bn worth of work awarded to medium sized businesses (50-250 employees), £677million to small businesses (11-49 employees) and just over £1billion to micro businesses (1-10 employees).

Rail Minister Huw Merriman said: “These figures demonstrate the significant opportunities HS2 offers to UK businesses and supply chains. Not only is it transforming services on our railways, but it’s creating new opportunities for growth and supporting thousands of high-skilled jobs right across the country.

HS2’s supply chain is working at pace to provide a vast range of services including groundworks, archaeology, technology systems, and the manufacturing of parts, components and personal protective equipment.

Ruth Todd, Chief Commercial Officer at HS2 Ltd, said: “We’re working with specialist businesses and suppliers from across the UK to deliver Britain’s new high speed, low carbon railway. These firms are providing world-leading consultancy services, engineering solutions and products, with many going on to secure multiple contracts.

“Given the size and longevity of HS2, we’re able to provide businesses with a lasting pipeline of work, which is boosting confidence and prompting investment despite the challenging economic climate.”

Scaffolding specialist Altrad RMD Kwikform is among the firms to have picked-up work.

Managing Director Mark Pickard said: “Working on HS2 has given our business a timely boost, allowing us to rebound from the Covid-19 pandemic and giving us the impetus to invest in our people and hire more staff.

“We’ve worked on various parts of the project, securing multiple contracts over the last few years on sites in London, the Colne Valley and now in Birmingham, where we’re helping to construct the viaduct that will bring high speed trains into the city centre.

“With years of construction still to go, we’re confident that our work on HS2 will continue to bring stability, prosperity and growth to the business.”

All current and past opportunities on the project can be found online here.

The Government announcement last month that all phases of HS2 from Manchester to London Euston will go ahead but construction of parts of the route will be delayed by two years to save money.