Executive Search: Why Leadership Hiring Needs a Different Approach

A Guide to Careers in the Rail Industry

If you’re thinking about a new career direction or wondering where your engineering or technical skills could take you, the rail industry is well worth a closer look. It’s one of the UK’s most stable sectors, it’s growing, and it’s going through one of the biggest modernisation periods in its history. Which makes it an ideal time to explore careers in the railway industry and wider rail sector. Is the rail industry a good career path? Yes. UK rail infrastructure quietly powers everything else in the UK. People rely on it. Businesses rely on it. And with investment flowing in from every direction, the demand for talent is only getting stronger. Why choose a career in rail? In 2025, the rail industry is in the middle of a major period of change. Large parts of the network are being upgraded, with old infrastructure being modernised and there’s a strong push towards a greener, more efficient rail system. That means a steady flow of railway career opportunities across engineering, operations, sustainability, project delivery, asset management, and more. And while some flagship programmes, like HS2, have been re-phased, the wider industry continues to move forward. Projects like Northern Powerhouse Rail, East West Rail, and Network Rail’s ongoing renewals and upgrades are still progressing at pace, creating sustained demand for skilled engineers, technicians, and project specialists. For anyone looking for job security and progression, careers in the rail industry offer both. What types of jobs are available in the UK rail industry? If you want a sector where you can actually grow, rail is a strong pick. One of the best things about rail is how broad it is. People often start in hands-on careers in the railway industry, maintenance, track, signalling, and operations and move into senior technical, project, or managerial roles over time. You’ll find roles in: Engineering and infrastructure: civil, mechanical, electrical, systems, signalling Operations: drivers, signallers, controllers, planners Maintenance: track operatives, technicians, asset inspectors Project delivery: project managers, planners, site supervisors Support and digital: procurement, IT, data, cyber, commercial roles What is the salary for railway jobs? Careers in the rail industry are generally well paid, and salaries often rise quickly with experience. Here’s a few common examples: Track/Maintenance Operatives: £28k–£38k Signalling Technicians: £35k–£50k Project Engineers: £40k–£55k Civil/Track Engineers: £45k–£65k Train Drivers: £55k–£70k Project Managers (Infrastructure): £55k–£75k (Sources: Network Rail, Glassdoor, and Prospects.ac.uk) What qualifications or skills do you need for a career in rail? The rail sector values both formal qualifications and on-the-job learning. Common routes include: NVQs or Level 3 qualifications in engineering, construction, or electrical work Apprenticeships with Network Rail, Transport for London, or major contractors Degrees in civil, mechanical, or electrical engineering for professional roles Sentinel training and safety certifications for operational work Deep dive into 'What is Sentinel and why do you need it?'. Just as important are the interpersonal and behavioural attributes that keep teams effective and safe: Strong communication and teamwork Problem-solving under pressure Attention to detail and adherence to safety protocols Adaptability, especially with new digital technologies How to get a job in the rail industry There isn’t one “right” way to start careers in the railway industry. A lot of people join through: Apprenticeships Graduate schemes Trainee technician routes Direct entry with trade experience (electrical, construction, mechanical) Via specialist transport recruitment agencies Working with a specialist agency can be especially helpful because you’ll get guidance on background checks, Sentinel training, and access to roles that aren’t always advertised publicly. Switching tracks into the rail industry Maybe you’re coming from construction, defence, automotive, energy, manufacturing, or even something completely different. Rail loves transferable skills. If you’ve got the foundations, organisations will often train you in the rail-specific parts. This is exactly how programmes like Train to Deploy work, taking experienced professionals, reskilling or upskilling them, and deploying them onto major rail projects. What background checks are needed for rail jobs? Because rail is a safety-critical environment, you’ll go through a few essential checks before you start working: Right-to-work and ID verification Reference/employment history checks Medical assessments Drug & alcohol screening DBS checks Sentinel competency verification if you’re working trackside Many employers use specialist background screening partners to speed things up and keep everything compliant. If you end up working with a rail & transport recruitment partner who understands the sector, they’ll usually guide you through the checks and help you get everything sorted without the stress. The future of railways There’s a very real buzz around the future of railways. As the rail network modernises, we’ll see more digital tools, better connectivity and a stronger focus on sustainability. All of which are creating new opportunities across engineering, operations and project delivery. The next decade is going to bring: Digital signalling and smarter control systems Greater automation Data-led maintenance More electrification and sustainability-focused projects Increased focus on diversity, accessibility and new talent pipelines All of this means long-term opportunity. If you want a career that lets you be part of something evolving and genuinely shaping the UK’s future, the rail industry is a brilliant place to be.

Building Workforce Readiness: Train to Deploy vs. Traditional Hiring

If you’re facing urgent capability gaps, recruitment might feel like the fastest fix. But for critical infrastructure organisations, traditional hiring alone doesn’t build the depth or resilience you need. As roles evolve and technical demands rise, hiring needs to shift from finding talent to developing it. This shift is leading organisations to adopt workforce strategies like a Train to Deploy solution, one that’s designed to meet capability challenges at their core. Why Traditional Hiring Falls Short for Critical Roles Even with a strong recruitment function or trusted agency partners, the reality is this: finding the right person for a complex, evolving role is becoming harder. The market is tighter, the skills are more specialised, and the stakes are higher. Here’s what we’re hearing from teams across critical infrastructure: Hiring fills seats, but capability stays static In many organisations, hiring isn’t the problem; capability is. Without structured development, organisations are locked in a cycle of reactive hiring. Short-term gaps get filled, but internal capability doesn’t grow. That creates long-term risk when projects scale or specialist knowledge walks out the door. Filled roles don’t equal work-ready teams Time-to-hire might be improving, but time-to-productivity isn’t. Even experienced hires often face long onboarding, steep learning curves, and gaps in system, compliance, or industry knowledge. Traditional hiring misses high-potential talent When roles are critical and evolving, it’s not always about who’s done the job before. Traditional CV-led hiring often overlooks candidates with the behaviours, learning agility, and mindset to thrive. Without new ways to identify and assess potential, you risk filtering out tomorrow’s best performers before they even get a look-in. Diversity and inclusion efforts stall without new pathways If you’re still using the same hiring channels and criteria, you’ll keep reaching the same talent. That makes it difficult to move the dial on DEI, especially in sectors under pressure to reflect the communities they serve. Truly inclusive hiring takes more than intent; it takes infrastructure. Without new pathways into skilled roles, you limit both who you hire and how you grow. How Train to Deploy Builds Aligned, Work-Ready Talent Instead of recruiting for a role and hoping someone fits, you identify the capability you need and Train to Deploy builds it. Here’s how it works: Match-to-train We identify high-potential individuals based on behaviours, mindset, and learning agility, not just what’s on their CV. This opens up new talent pools and removes the traditional filters that limit inclusive hiring. “We call this inclusion without limits. If someone has the right mindset and behaviours, we build the skillset.” Bespoke, role-aligned training Rather than generic upskilling, TTD pathways are tailored to your business. Meaning training covers the tools, standards, systems, and compliance frameworks your teams use every day. Compliance and day-one readiness From regulated safety training to industry accreditations or project-specific onboarding, readiness is built into the process. No long ramp-up. No onboarding lag. Just hires that are ready to contribute from day one. Deployment into real roles Once trained, talent is deployed directly into your teams. Coaching and mentoring continue through placement to ensure confidence, cohesion, and long-term value. Scalable to match demand Train to Deploy gives you the ability to plan and scale talent pipelines in advance of need. Seasonal peaks? Project launches? Evolving capability requirements? Your workforce is ready to flex without the lag. The Business Impact of a Train to Deploy Strategy The Train to Deploy model provides a fundamental shift in how you build the capability your business needs to deliver today and adapt to tomorrow. Rather than competing for scarce talent, with Train to Deploy you’re able to develop talent on your terms. You gain the ability to grow your own workforce with people aligned to your values, trained to your systems, and ready to contribute from day one. Here’s how a Train to Deploy solution adds value: Faster productivity: role-specific training is delivered up front, meaning new hires arrive work-ready. This significantly reduces onboarding lag and avoids costly ramp-up periods. Improved retention: when you hire for mindset and train for the role, people are more engaged and more likely to stay. That means lower churn and reduced long-term cost of repeat hiring. Inclusive, high-potential pipelines: With a focus on sourcing based on behaviours and potential, not just experience, Train to Deploy opens doors to talent often missed by traditional recruitment. Helping you meet social value, DEI, and ESG targets in a way that’s measurable and sustainable. Reduced contractor reliance: building internal capability ahead of demand reduces the need for short-term, high-cost labour. That gives you more budget control and a more stable, aligned workforce. Strategic workforce resilience: TTD enables you to build flexible, future-fit teams without needing to start from scratch each time. This is great for when you’re looking at scaling for a new project or backfilling retiring expertise. Explore our full guide to building a business case for a Train to Deploy solution to find out more. Recap: How Train to Deploy Drives Workforce Readiness In summary, a Train to Deploy solution builds workforce readiness by combining behaviour-first hiring with role-specific training to deliver aligned, job-ready teams from day one. This workforce strategy helps organisations: Develop talent aligned to real operational needs Reduce time-to-productivity through targeted onboarding Build internal capability for future project demands Improve retention and diversity by hiring for mindset, not just CVs

RPO vs Traditional Recruitment: Which hiring model is right for you?

The evolution of permanent recruitment models has been remarkable over the past ten years. The once simple decision between in-house and agency recruitment has evolved into a dynamic landscape saturated with options, all designed to provide organisations with enhanced flexibility, control, and efficiency. The three most common models include Permanent Recruitment, Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO), and RPO On-Demand. Each serves a different purpose, but understanding where one ends and another begins can be challenging. Each plays a unique role in the journey of business growth, yet understanding the transition from one to the next can be difficult. This bitesize guide outlines the unique offerings of each model, highlights their differences, and provides insights on selecting the approach that aligns perfectly with your hiring requirements. Click to navigate: What is permanent recruitment? What is an RPO? What is RPO On-Demand? What is Permanent Recruitment? Permanent recruitment, commonly known as perm recruitment, represents the classic agency model that many businesses recognise. This approach focuses on securing permanent employees rather than relying on temporary or contract arrangements. Agencies are often engaged by clients to enhance their internal hiring teams or talent acquisition efforts, either for particular positions or when specialised knowledge is needed. The recruitment agency identifies, screens, and presents candidates for specific roles. It continues to be the preferred choice for organisations in need of flexibility or assistance with specialised positions. Yet, permanent recruitment models vary significantly. Here are the three primary approaches: Contingency: Multiple agencies vie to fill the same vacancy, with payment awarded solely to the agency that successfully places a candidate. This approach emphasises rapid execution and network reach, but it may result in inconsistent quality. Exclusive: A single agency is granted exclusivity to fill the role within a specified timeframe. The recruiter can dedicate more time in sourcing and screening, free from competing with others. Retained: An agency is formally engaged on a retained basis (often with part payment upfront) to conduct a bespoke search. This is common for senior, specialist, or hard-to-fill roles and involves a consultative partnership that includes thorough candidate assessments. Many clients manage agency relationships through a bank of approved agencies, called a Preferred Supplier List (PSL). Some PSLs are tightly structured with defined service levels and performance reviews; others evolve informally based on trust and track record. Over time, HR or talent teams learn which partners deliver best for particular disciplines or regions. For agencies, earning a spot on a PSL means proving consistent delivery and understanding a client’s culture beyond individual vacancies. When Perm Recruitment is most effective Permanent recruitment offers flexibility and taps into extensive networks, but it can become expensive or unpredictable when scaling up hiring efforts. This model is ideal for: Companies experiencing minimal or consistent recruitment activity. Companies in need of specialised talent that is hard to find within their own ranks. Businesses seeking quick solutions without the burden of long-term obligations. What is an RPO? Recruitment Process Outsourcing, commonly known as RPO, involves delegating all or part of your recruitment function to an external provider. An RPO partner integrates seamlessly into your organisation, taking charge of recruitment from start to finish or at specific stages, rather than tackling each vacancy individually. This partnership is designed to enhance efficiency while elevating candidate quality and ensuring predictable costs. Some RPO partners go beyond the conventional scope of recruitment to also cover workforce planning, internal mobility, and talent analytics. How RPO transforms hiring The RPO model gives organisations enterprise-level capability without expanding their internal headcount. A mature RPO solution will often go beyond typical RPO hiring to build an infrastructure recruitment that seamlessly combines specialist knowledge and operational excellence. The RPO model gives organisations with enterprise-level capabilities while keeping internal headcount in check. An advanced RPO solution exceeds conventional hiring practices, creating a recruitment infrastructure that effortlessly integrates operational excellence with your people, processes, and technology. This may include: Sourcing and screening candidates at scale. Crafting a compelling employer branding and enhancing the candidate journey. Deploying applicant tracking systems and analytics dashboards. Providing real-time hiring metrics and insights into the talent market. Introducing workforce planning and internal mobility strategies. Benefits of RPO Partnering with an RPO provider can transform how you attract, engage, and retain talent. In addition to improving process efficiency, the model delivers tangible business impact across: Consistency – every candidate experiences the same process, strengthening the employer brand. Cost efficiency – lower cost per hire through process optimisation and reduced agency reliance. Scalability – resources adjust seamlessly to meet hiring demand. Strategic partnership – dedicated experts continuously refine processes and outcomes. Visibility – Utilising data-driven reporting to improve decision-making. In a typical RPO partnership, it's not unusual to see time-to-hire improvements of around 20–30% once processes are standardised. When is the right time for an RPO model? RPO is ideal for organisations experiencing high or variable hiring demands, working across multiple business units, or looking at ambitious growth targets. This model is particularly effective when recruitment demands exceed internal capability or when a business wants to elevate talent acquisition to a strategic level. What is RPO On-Demand? On-Demand RPO takes the structure and expertise of RPO and applies it flexibly for short-term or project-based needs. Often referred to as Project RPO or RPO Lite, this solution is designed for organisations seeking a more organised and proactive strategy than traditional agency recruitment, without the need for a complete outsourcing partnership. How RPO On-Demand works An RPO On-Demand provider seamlessly integrates with your internal team for a fixed period or defined project. Specialist recruiters or campaign managers join your existing processes, elevating them to help you deliver outcomes fast. Our RPO On-demand solution consists of five core modules: talent consultancy, talent outsourcing, search and select, campaign management, and early careers consultancy. You pay only for what suits your needs. Benefits of RPO On-Demand Many organisations use RPO On-Demand to enhance recruitment performance and gather valuable insights before evolving into a long-term RPO partnership. The typical benefits of project RPO include: Quick access to experienced recruiters and technology. Ability to scale up or down in weeks rather than months. Lower fixed cost and no long-term contract. Improved time to hire through proven processes. Continuity and brand consistency for candidates. When Businesses Use RPO On-Demand RPO On-Demand is particularly effective when internal capacity and timelines or project scope shift unexpectedly. It lets organisations scale quickly without losing control of quality. Common use cases include: Rapid scaling following new investment or expansion. Launching a new site, division, or product line. Short-term spikes in hiring volume, such as seasonal peaks. Overloaded internal teams needing extra resource. Testing outsourced recruitment before committing to full RPO. Comparing perm recruitment, RPO, and RPO On-demand In practice, the difference lies in how much control and structure you want. Permanent recruitment offers flexibility and reach for individual roles. RPO On-Demand introduces dedicated expertise on a project basis. Full RPO embeds that expertise permanently, transforming recruitment into a scalable business function. Feature Perm Recruitment RPO RPO On-Demand Commitment Per-hire engagement Longer-term partnership Project or campaign Scope Individual roles Part of or end-to-end process Modular services Scalability Limited Very high (enterprise-wide) High (short-term) Control Agency-led Outsourced and strategic Shared with internal team Cost model Fee per placement Monthly or per-hire SLA Pay-as-you-use Best for One-off or specialist hires Continuous, large scale recruitment Rapid or project hiring How to choose the right recruitment model The best recruitment model depends on your hiring patterns, internal capability, and business goals. Ask yourself: How variable are our hiring volumes? Do we want to own or outsource recruitment infrastructure? What level of visibility and reporting do we need? How fast do we need to scale? The answers help identify whether agility, scalability, or partnership is your priority. Here are a few guiding scenarios: You hire fewer than 10 people a year: Permanent recruitment keeps the process light and flexible. You have an internal team but face short-term growth or transformation: RPO On-Demand gives temporary capacity and expertise. You hire 200+ people a year or across multiple site and disciplines: RPO provides end-to-end structure and the consistency to garner measurable results. Permanent recruitment, RPO On-Demand and full RPO hiring models each bring a different balance of flexibility, control, and partnership. The key is aligning your approach with your organisation’s stage of growth and the outcomes you want from your hiring process. For smaller businesses or one-off hires, agility and speed may matter most. For growing organisations, scalability and consistency often take priority. And for large enterprises, the value lies in visibility, insight, and long-term talent capability. Reviewing your current pain points, such as time to hire, candidate quality, or recruiter workload, can help reveal whether your existing approach still serves your future goals. Here are five signs your hiring strategy needs a serious overhaul.