A company with a 50 year-plus history in Ashby has won a lucrative £47million HS2 contract.

Siemens started out as the Smisby Road-based Transmitton in 1972 - and has expanded into one of the town's biggest and most influential employers.

But despite winning an HS2 contract to fit out the four main stations on the planned high speed line from London to Birmingham, Siemens has no plans to move out of Ashby.

In fact, it has strong links with local schools as it seeks the engineering minds of the future.

Siemens Mobility will provide a cutting-edge station information management system across four main stations, Curzon Street in Birmingham, Interchange, Old Oak Common, and Euston.

Siemens' Chief Executive Rob Morris (left) celebrates the £47million contract. Photo: Supplied

The technology, known as Digital Station Manager, aims to bring a seamless travel experience for passengers and is already in operation on London's Elizabeth Line.

It is a contract that took around two years to win and means stability for the 250 people employed at Siemens' Coalfield Way base.

The contract has been described as keeping Siemens in the town 'for generations'.

It has become one of Ashby's success stories, a fact that is not lost on joint Chief Executive Officer, Rob Morris.

He said: "We have a significant presence in Ashby and are delighted as a result to be working in close collaboration with HS2 and our supply chain partners to deliver this landmark project.

"Not only will it be delivered at Ashby, here in the UK, by the next generation of engineers, it will also help create jobs and provide a boost to the local economy.

Siemens' Coalfield Way base. Photo: Ashby Nub News

"One would conclude that the work we did on the Elizabeth Line helped us win the HS2 contract."

Julian Randle, HS2 Delivery Lead at Siemens, admits the company is not as well known in Ashby as it could be, but that this contract could 're-awaken' residents to a once familiar name in the town.

He told Ashby Nub News: "It's a huge opportunity for us, with a blue chip company and vital for the infrastructure of the country.

"But we've spent years here growing the people, we have strong links with Ashby School as well. The local universities know we're always recruiting the best graduates.

"This business started with Siemens in 2005 and we've been at Coalfield Way in 1997.

"Ashby people can maybe be re-awakened by this.

"But we have lots of opportunities here, different things open up. There are summer placements available for students.

Siemens' Colin Rowcliffe, added."I'd say we've probably doubled our workforce over the past seven years.

"There'll be steady growth, it's very important we invest in graduates and apprentices."

Kim Kapur, Stations Client Director at HS2 Ltd said: "Station systems such as the public address, information and fire alarms play a vital role in the smooth running of all modern railways stations – providing clear information to passengers and staff to de-stress journeys and ensure safety throughout. 

"Siemens has a clear track record of delivering state-of-the-art station systems and we look forward to working with them – and their team at Ashby de-la-Zouch." 

Siemens has a number of employees who live in the Ashby area - and two of them showed what can be achieved with the company, particularly after the award of the HS2 contract.

Katie Roberts, who lives in Ashby, said: "I studied Mechatronic Engineering at Lancaster University, and then came to Siemens on their graduate scheme and did a few placements in Ashby.

"I worked in different departments, and after two years of rotating through the departments and getting an understanding of how the business, I was given a permanent role.

"I finished last September then moved into the supervisory control and data acquisition team.

"That involves collecting data and controlling systems."

Anna Poultney, a former Coalville primary teacher, said: "I joined Siemens around eight years ago.

"Before that I was a primary school teacher in Ellistown.

"I was a personal decision to leave and I wanted to have development opportunities.

"When I came to Siemens, I was Manufacturing Manager, and then I became a design manager before being Works Traffic Manager, which involves looking after the relationship between the Ashby factory and the one in Chippenham.

"The news about HS2 affects me directly and it's very exciting. So many opportunities will come from this."