The Rail Accelerator and Innovation Solutions Hub for Enterprise – better known as RaisE – was officially opened on 27 May by Siemens Mobility and partners.
The facility is next to Siemens Mobility’s new train factory whose first order is for new Piccadilly Line stock for London Underground: the factory is nearing completion of construction.
More than 150 guests joined Siemens Mobility, East Riding of Yorkshire Council and the University of Birmingham to mark official completion of the facility.
It provides 3,200 square metres of commercial floor space comprising office and workshop accommodation. The space is available to let to small and medium sized enterprises in any sector and is not exclusive to rail.
The second floor of the three storey-building is the office base for Siemens Mobility, and it is estimated that its presence in RaisE and the train factory opposite will create up to 700 new jobs with a further 90 generated by the new business centre.
Phase two of RaisE will now follow – the £50 million centre of excellence for rail research and innovation developed between Siemens Mobility and the University of Birmingham. The two phases will help to create a ‘rail village’ which it is hoped will attract further added value activity from the wider supply chain.
