Train manufacturer CAF keeps operations on track with Ford & Stanley partnership

A global leader in train manufacturing has turned to talent services company Ford & Stanley to handle recruitment for its rapidly expanding UK operations.

The Spanish firm CAF has won major rolling stock contracts with UK train operators including Trans Pennine Express, Northern Trains, West Midlands Trains and Transport for Wales.

Ford & Stanley’s unique service offerings secured them the three-year sole recruitment supplier contract with CAF Rolling Stock & CAF Rail Services. The partnership sees Ford & Stanley supplying a full site managed service for contract and permanent placements, covering disciplines within engineering, operations, procurement, finance, business support and administration; all of which combine to help the company meet its operational targets.

As part of its role, Ford & Stanley has been involved in several projects, including the provision of a dedicated IR35 team who ran a series of workshops to assist CAF and workers with the new payroll working rules that came into effect last year.

Chris Jones, Director, said: “Our services are about helping clients to achieve marginal gains in a skills-short environment. The differences in our approach are subtle but the impact on the success of each piece of recruitment is significant for both the candidate and the employer.

“We have worked closely with the CAF hiring community to overcome the challenges of IR35 and the pandemic, developing strong relationships and affirming our role as a talent services provider that CAF can depend on and trust.”

This three-year deal is one of several prestigious contracts that have recently been awarded to Ford & Stanley, further cementing the company’s position as one of the fastest growing and exciting businesses in the UK talent field.

Iain Taylor, Head of Human Resources and Support Services at CAF, said: “This strategic relationship provides a single route to market, with controlled recruitment processes, the coordinated approach between Ford & Stanley and CAF ensures compliance for both the workforce being supplied and for procurement processes.

“The Ford & Stanley team listen to what the CAF businesses need and implement improvements where they can to enhance the experience; this has included providing an on-site recruitment coordinator for our facility in Newport and a remote interview solution which has been welcomed by our hiring managers.

“I would highly recommend Ford & Stanley – their approach to recruitment and forming a collaborative partnership is refreshing.”