It has been a busy and exciting start to 2011 for the UK rail industry.
The last month has seen a record number of contract placements for a leading rail recruitment agency. With Crossrail and other leading long term rail infrastructure projects looking safer that they once were, we have seen the return of an active permanent recruitment market within rail, offering the candidates long term career opportunities.
March has been very busy on the Crossrail front with the work on many of the design packages for the high profile Central London sections nearing completion. The award of a Crossrail surface section GRIP 4 work, governed by Network Rail and Bechtel, has seen an increase in activity as the winning consultants begin to install project teams. With the procurement and supply chain process less streamlined than on the central sections, the number of firms competing for Crossrail work has risen. Packages are being outsourced to smaller niche design groups and are being completed in regional offices creating activity across the UK.
The beginning of 2011 has also seen a number of Main Contractors move in to Crossrail offices in North Greenwich and Canary Wharf.
Outside of Crossrail a number of current rail projects have gathered momentum, examples such as:
- Bond Street Station Upgrade
- Victoria Station Upgrade
- The Neasden Depot Project
- Ealing Common depot
- Birmingham New Street Station
- Waverley Station
- London Underground SSR Line Upgrade
- Paisley Corridor
In the longer term, recent polls suggesting a better than expected response to High Speed 2 has brought confidence of a positive result to the Public Consultation on this high profile Rail scheme.
In parallel to busy UK market, there are a number of high profile rail projects taking place overseas, notably in the Middle East. Projects such as Makah Metro, UAE Rail Upgrade and the Saudi High Speed Link are creating jobs both abroad and in UK design houses. March has seen a leading rail recruitment agency place contractors on assignment out of the UK in countries such Dubai. With these projects drawing expertise from the British Rail community we are expecting further activity as we move forward in 2011.
With the high profile projects discussed at the forefront of a rail market soon to receive the renewed budgets of key organisations such as London Underground and Network Rail, there is a great feeling of optimism as we head into spring.
