Where has July gone? It only seems like two minutes since we launched last month’s first newsletter. For Ford & Stanley, it has been scorcher of a month in growing our network, placing oodles more candidates, generating further business and keeping our clients smiling. As self-care is important especially during frantic periods, we even found some time for a break from the office to get back to nature. Here’s the lowdown on some of the things we’ve been up to…
Making rail connections at RSN 2024
On July 4th, the Ford & Stanley team descended on Derby Arena once again for this year’s Rolling Stock Networking (RSN) event, where numerous stakeholders from the UK and beyond gathered for the annual international rail industry showcase. This year’s event, focusing on Passenger and Freight Rolling Stock, Technical Enhancements, Depot Equipment, Ancillary Services and the Railway Supply Chain promised to be the biggest and best yet. RSN 2024 sold out five months before the show and next year’s show on 3rd July 2025 is already building a head of steam!
And it certainly lived up to expectations – offering affordable, high-quality rail market access to companies of all sizes, while also serving as a great networking opportunity to establish new business connections and strengthen existing relationships.
Besides the exhibition, the conference and the Meet the Buyer sessions drew in a hoard of visitors, and with the usual large crowd attending in just six hours, navigating through the exhibition floor without running into someone familiar was quite a challenge!
What makes RSN unique is the community vibe it gives – there’s always a great buzz and it creates the perfect mix of a relaxed but efficient networking experience. Roll on next year!
Ford & Stanley Team Building & Summer Social
The importance of digitally disconnecting can never be underestimated, so what better excuse to grab some much-needed time away from the office than with a team building away event in the great outdoors?
That’s exactly what happened on Friday 19th July, as Ford & Stanley Talent Services enjoyed an afternoon bathed in sunshine at the company’s social and team building event.
Organised by Genius Performance (part of Ford & Stanley Talent Services) the planned series of team-building events focused on initiative, problem-solving and communication, with some good ol’ camaraderie thrown in.
A fun-packed itinerary included a raft of innovative games such as A Bridge Too Far, Minefield, Walk the Plank, As Light as a Feather, Build It and They Will Come. What enhanced the whole experience was the unique set of circumstances the games were played in. Firstly, the event took place on the Conservation Meadow, the site of an environmental project supported by Ford & Stanley’s The Better Workdays Conservation Trust. Secondly, after a very sporadic spring and summer interspersed with far too much wet stuff, it was an absolute bonus to welcome temperatures of 27C to enjoy the lush surroundings in. Then of course, there was a delicious BBQ and freshly made pizza to top off a great afternoon and feed a hoard of very hungry team members!
The world of recruitment never stops and as much as we love it, it sometimes feels good to press pause and smell the coffee. Despite how busy the team are, the afternoon proved how great it is to step away from the office and spend time together.
Rail Forum Annual General Meeting
It was great to see so many members at Rail Forum’s AGM on the 23rd July, and a plethora of guests from across the industry.
Kick-starting proceedings was Chair Will Rogers who welcomed us all before CEO, Elaine Clark got down to formal AGM business. This was followed by a series of insightful “fireside chats” featuring David Leam, Group Communications Director at Network Rail; Tim Shoveller, CEO UK/Europe at Freightliner Group Ltd; Andy Lord, Commissioner at Transport for London and Rufus Boyd, Lead Director of Great British Railways Transition Team (GBRTT).
There were also updates from members of the Rail Forum team, rounded off by guest speaker Andreas Schroeder of The Advanced Services Group at Lancaster University. As usual, it was good to see a rich cross-section of individuals representing the sector and getting the opportunity to tap into their expertise.
Rail Forum Summer Gathering
Following hot on the heels of the AGM, Derbyshire County Cricket Club was the place to be as it played host to RF’s very first Summer Gathering event. It really did do what it said on the tin by proving to be the ‘Ultimate Networking experience’ with around 350 members and guests coming along.
Such a big crowd set the scene for an extremely busy and enjoyable evening with lots of conversations over some great food, courtesy of a two-course traditional hog roast. Aside from the delicious fare, it was an evening of pure networking with movers and shakers from across the industry with no speeches and no interruptions. Even the weather held out for us!
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