News Roundup – Issue 3
Welcome to our latest news round-up
In this blog, we share recent updates and highlights from across our business, providing you with insights and news on our activities and achievements.
News and updates
The Rail team hosted their largest annual Safety Stand Down Day to date at Barnsley FC’s Oakwell Stadium. The event brought together members of the Rail contracting team to reflect on the critical importance of health and safety best practices while working trackside. Packed with interactive sessions, presentations, and workshops, the day was followed by a morning debrief and equipment exercises.
As part of the NRL Group’s ongoing commitment to supporting important causes, NRL launched the Wellbeing at Work app during Mental Health Awareness Week. The app, which is accessible to all our contractors, is designed to promote overall health and wellbeing, providing guidance on stress management, improving health, and managing finances to encourage a balanced approach to home and work life.
The recent Rail Charity Golf Day at Barnsley’s Silkstone Golf Club proved to be an wonderful event, raising an impressive £2,201 for the Barnsley Independent Alzheimer’s and Dementia Society (BIADS). Attendees enjoyed a memorable day while supporting the charity’s vital work in the community. A special thank you goes to Emily, Amber, and Ola, who generously volunteered their time to capture the event through photography, despite their busy college schedules.
Celebrating milestones
This year is a significant one as we reach 10 years since we opened our Barnsley office. It’s also 10 years since we joined CIRAS, the Confidential Incident Reporting & Analysis System, and ensuring transparency within our operations continues to be a priority for us.
It only seems like a couple of months ago when Jim Taylor, the previous Rail Director, and Brett Hawke, the current Rail Director, first arrived at the site of the Barnsley office, which was then just a steel frame with no walls, roof, or access road. At the time, it was essentially a building site, but the location, layout, and potential made it clear to them that this would be a long-term base for their operations—a vision that has proven true. Since moving into the office, significant developments have been made, including the addition of a classroom and boardroom, as well as the installation of a full track layout. Initially designed for training purposes, the track is now also used for machine trials with clients.
The modern railway as we know it today reaches its 200th anniversary on 27th September, and we look forward to joining in with the celebrations.
Investing in new electric equipment
The Ground Support contract remains as busy as ever. Recently, two fully electric grinding machines were delivered to the Barnsley office. As a carbon-neutral business committed to minimising its environmental impact, this new equipment represents an important step forward in reducing fuel consumption while upholding the high standard of service delivery expected.
Team updates
Since the last issue of our News Roundup, Amanda MacCarthy and Donna Yard both celebrated 5 years of being Mental Health First Aiders. We’re proud of the commitment they make to supporting fellow colleagues with their mental health, which is always managed with discretion and confidentiality.
Amanda MacCarthy
Donna Yard
