RISQS held its latest Buyer and Supplier Consultation Group meeting in London on 21 April 2026. The event brought together more than 100 representatives from across the rail supply chain. It was a valuable opportunity to share updates, explore emerging themes, and hear directly from buyers and suppliers on how RISQS continues to work in practice.

The Consultation Group plays a key role in supporting open dialogue across the scheme: helping RISQS to reflect real world challenges, priorities, and opportunities within rail procurement and assurance.

Key themes and presentations

The agenda covered a broad range of topics relevant to both buyers and suppliers.

Opening the session was Richard Hussey, Programme Commercial Manager at Network Rail. He gave an overview of the contract pipeline. He also shared insight into upcoming opportunities and the broader commercial landscape facing the rail industry.

April 2026 Event Round up 2

A review of audit trends was delivered by Tricia Meade, Senior Lead Auditor. She outlined common themes identified over the past year. This session highlighted areas where suppliers continue to perform well, as well as recurrent findings that organisations may want to consider when preparing for assessment.

April 2026 Event Round up 3

The event also featured live demonstrations of the RISQS platform, led by Tarnya Martin, Product Development Manager. Separate buyer and supplier breakout sessions gave attendees the chance to explore functionality, ask questions, and discuss practical use of the system in different contexts.

April 2026 Event Round up 4

The day concluded with an open Q&A session, hosted by Phil Smith, Scheme Manager, and Paul Haynes, Assistant Scheme Manager. Attendees raised questions about scheme operation, future developments, and applying RISQS within procurement processes.

April 2026 Event Round up 5

Feedback and next steps

RISQS welcomed the constructive feedback shared during the event, including suggestions on how the scheme can continue to evolve and better support the needs of both buyers and suppliers. These contributions form an important part of ongoing engagement and continuous improvement activity.

Presentations from all sessions are available to RISQS users via the portal under Resources > Documents.

RISQS will continue to engage with the industry through future consultation groups and other forums. This ensures that the scheme remains aligned with the needs of the rail supply chain. Visit our events section for updates on future events and engagement opportunities.