High-speed rail project HS2 will be at the heart of the "fightback" against covid-19 in the West Midlands, according to the region's mayor.
Andy Street made the rallying cry during an online summit as he encouraged SMEs in the West Midlands to stake a claim to the hundreds of thousands of contracts that the project is set to create.
More than 700 people dialled into the digital event for a briefing on the 400,000 supply chain opportunities linked to the first phase of the cross-country transport link.
The line will run between central London and Birmingham city centre via Solihull and will involve the construction of four new stations alongside new tracks, tunnels and other infrastructure.
The briefing heard from some of the key players involved in the scheme, weeks after the Prime Minister visited Solihull to hail the official start of construction.
Mr Street said the West Midlands had suffered immensely because of the recent coronavirus turmoil but he saw the project as key to rebuilding after "a hard kick".
He told the event: "We know our region is particularly vulnerable to covid because of the mix of its economy - manufacturing, higher education, business tourism or exhibitions, all sectors under pressure.
"So we know we have got a real challenge...HS2 is right at the heart of that fightback.
"If it was important before covid, it is even more important now because we have got literally tens of billions of pounds being spent in this region."
The mayor highlighted the regeneration that HS2 would drive at sites including Birmingham's Eastside and UK Central in Solihull and connections to the local rail network.
"In tough times perhaps HS2 is one very bright spot at the end of a tunnel," he added.
"It's a long time until the tunnel is completed and built and we're all celebrating the first train ... but there are so many opportunities along the way."
So far, around £18 billion worth of contracts have already been announced, with the sum set to have grown to £25 billion by 2022.
The event was organised to make SMEs in the region aware of some of the work that will be on offer and how they can bid for tenders.
There were also presentations by HS2's chief executive Mark Thurston, key contractors and Concept, an engineering consultancy which has already secured a contract.
Although critics continue to raise concern about its spiralling budget, with an admission this week that another £800 million in costs was needed.
