Speaking Innovation- Supplying Innovation

25 March 2015

IXC (InnovationXchange®) were talking innovation last week at an event for the rail industry.

The Rail Alliance hosted its “Supplying Innovation to the Train Operating Companies (TOCs)” event on Thursday 19th March as part of its promotion of innovation opportunities to its supply chain membership and general drive to accelerating innovation within the rail sector.

IXC Business Development Director, Russ Noble, was one of the invited speakers given his industry engagement role for Innovation in Franchising with RSSB FutureRailway- the rail sector’s organisation for innovation and development. IXC, with their expertise in connecting and collaborating across businesses, are supporting FutureRailway with industry engagement and outreach to Owning Groups and Train Operating Companies.

Russ Noble, IXC Business Development Director, ‘incentivising innovation'

“Incentivising Innovation in Franchising” was the topic of Russ’s talk and he introduced the Department for Transport’s new rail franchise policy, the Innovation Fund for new franchises, plus other funding opportunities from FutureRailway including its recently launched Train Operator Competition (TOC’15). These provide opportunities for the supply chain to engage and collaborate with train operators, and attain funding for innovations.

Interest and debate in innovation opportunities and funding

The audience, at the Union Jack Club in London, included rail suppliers and train operators. Other invited speakers were Helen Waters from Arriva UK Trains and Neil Ovendon from The Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC). The talks prompted great interest and debate- particularly around the innovation fund and other FutureRailway competitions.

Invited speakers for supplying innovation: Russ Noble, IXC & FutureRailway; Neil Ovendon, ATOC; Helen Waters, Arriva.