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ADVERTORIAL
Steve Stocks, Managing Director (MD) at Wakatipu Consulting Ltd (WCL) discusses managing and delivering complex signalling and telecoms, track, electrification, plant or organisational change works worldwide
Keeping rail infrastructure on track
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arge, complex or multi-stream projects are prone to difficulties, risking underdelivery, critical risks, or even project failure, which is why it is essential that programmes set out on the right foundations. “Pretty much every rail project these days ends up with an overspend, sometimes more than double its initial estimated cost,” said Steve Stocks, MD at WCL. “This might be because of the naivety of people when they start out about how much they can do the job for, the understanding of the intricacies of what is actually involved in delivering that project, or even just estimating a figure that they think people want to hear to open up more funding for the next stage of the project.” It is something that is of particular concern to Steve, especially when his team has the expertise to solve these tricky issues, with WCL existing to help organisations eliminate risks, deliver excellence, and get maximum return on investment. Although the company is happy to come to the rescue mid-
We’re looking for the best and brightest to continue our work of helping on the biggest challenges project, he’d like to be involved from the early stages to have the biggest impact and save costs and prevent problems down the line. This wish is coming true as WCL’s reputation gains momentum. The agile, fast-growing consultancy firm is developing and delivering major works for
August 2024
customers across the rail sector, bringing together the best minds in planning, programming, engineering and management as it works with large corporates and SMEs. “We’ll evaluate your situation, provide an honest appraisal or reality on the ground, and chart your best route to success,” added Steve, who founded WCL 12 years ago along with Nick Cole, Jim Gilliatt, and Paul Ainsworth. “As expert consultants, we provide the kind of clarity, honesty and propulsion that is often difficult to get from inside a complex project or programme. “But I don’t recommend waiting until your risks become threateningly large, your stakeholders splintered, or full delivery has fallen into question. The earlier you have WCL by your side, the better we’ll be able to help you reset, dislodge deep rooted issues, and maximise your chance of successful delivery.” WCL specialises in integrated solutions for complex projects, complementing customers’ existing teams with hand-picked experts, offering