Putting AARC Ahead of the Curve

After more than 40 years in the UK rail industry many choose retirement, instead Steve Derrick assembled a team to create AARC Professional Services Limited, a specialist rail consultancy providing expert support and advisory services

‘For me, working in the rail industry isn’t simply a job – it’s a way of life, which inevitably sees you becoming part of the railway family. That’s something you never lose.’ So says Steve Derrick, whose career spans five decades, taking in everything from project engineering and contract management through to senior project, programme and general management roles.

Highlights include:

• Contract Management roles across all engineering disciplines as Railtrack interface with the maintenance and renewals units post privatisation.

• Engineering Interface Manager during the development stages of HS1.

• Lead Project Engineer across all stages for Birmingham Cross-City electrification and Snow Hill – Smethwick route reinstatement.

• Programme Controls Lead for the Network Rail National Operating Strategy.

• Senior Programme Manager for investment projects on Network Rail’s London North West (LNW) route, including the Cross-Country route modernisation.

• Delivering LNW’s track renewals programme.

• Leading Network Rail’s West Midlands & Chilterns routes as Area General Manager, before moving across to lead the West Coast South area.

Reminiscing, Steve says: ‘During my career, I’ve been lucky enough to work with a great many people against the backdrop of a constantly evolving landscape, with all of those experiences helping to shape my approach to the task at hand.’

So when the time came to ‘hand in the keys’ in 2014, rather than head for the exit, he decided to create his own consultancy, bringing together a group of likeminded rail professionals to provide expert advice and guidance to the industry.

‘I think one of the major challenges that the industry faces, particularly now as we once again go through a period of significant change, is the real danger of losing that knowledge and experience when seasoned operators leave. The purpose of AARCPS is to address that knowledge drain by retaining those people and skills and redeploying them to where they’re needed most, helping to deliver outstanding outcomes in the process. I also genuinely believe in the rail industry and want to give something back –an ethos shared by all of our associates.’

Most of those involved in AARCPS are former colleagues of Steve’s, themselves having held senior roles within the industry and each bringing with them a particular set of skills. They also share the common aim of providing clients with a ‘professional, collaborative and friendly though determined approach, to help bring about outstanding results.’ Their respective backgrounds also means that they can ‘hit the ground running’ –incredibly beneficial in building trust and developing a truly collaborative approach.

Steve explains: ‘Our motivation is to help clients achieve their goals by delivering strategic and technical expertise across a range of disciplines and at all levels, from frontline operations through to the boardroom. And whilst we’re happy to work independently where required, we strongly advocate the benefits of teamwork, actively encouraging collaborative relationships and aligning ourselves to the client’s respective organisation for the duration of the engagement.’

Currently 23 strong and counting, AARCPS has strength in depth, with specific expertise in operations, projects and engineering management, as well as safety, assurance and training.

In its relatively short lifespan, the business has already built up an impressive portfolio, with satisfied customers ranging from Network Rail through to Amey Infrastructure Wales and SPL Powerlines UK.

Supporting SPL in 2018 through its transition to main supplier for the delivery of electrification projects for Network Rail. This included the provision of safety verification and assurance support and has since involved additional assurance support.

‘AARCPS is a strong business, built around a core of time-served rail professionals, each of whom add value, hence us returning to them time and again for support.’ – Chris Hext, UK Group Safety & Services Director, SPL Powerlines UK

Developing a collaborative relationship with AIW in its delivery of the Core Valley Lines Transformation project, following the transfer of infrastructure management from Network Rail to Transport for Wales and AIW’s subsequent appointment as Managing Agent for the extensive programme of electrification, signalling recontrol and upgrade, track doubling and station improvements. In direct support,

AARCPS provided a specific focus on project operational interface work and has since grown its involvement, with a number of its associates working on a range of activities including network/project operations, safety & assurance and operational training design and delivery.

‘Having worked with Steve Derrick and team on several occasions, I have always found them to be very knowledgeable and easy to work with, delivering high quality outcomes on all that they support.’ – Colin Hughes, Head of CVL Operations

Working with Network Rail Scotland and in particular its operations and asset strategy teams on the development of a regional operations strategy. AARCPS has also been engaged by the Head of Operations to look at other requirements, including the provision of bespoke operational training modules.

‘The AARC team provided a professional service to the Region, with regular updates on progress and delivery of all outputs within the agreed timescales.’ – Guy Whaley, Signalling Strategy Lead, Network Rail Scotland

Appointed by GFT, one of the Midlands’ leading construction companies, as Contractor’s Engineering Manager (CEM) in support of the demolition/redevelopment bordering the railway of Oscott Manor School in Erdington, West Midlands – a vibrant community special school providing education for autistic children and young people aged between 11 and 19. AARCPS provided the professional lead/operational interface with the railway across all stages of the project lifecycle.

‘AARCPS’s appointed CEM was extremely proactive, bringing a positive direct approach to the project, which helped in the successful delivery of a potentially complex process.’ – Rob Sullivan, Senior Contracts Manager, G F Tomlinson.

Fast approaching its first decade of existence, it’s fair to say AARCPS can now consider itself a provider of choice when it comes to strategic and technical advice. But where next for Steve Derrick and team? Steve says: ‘Our objective is to continue to evolve at a controlled pace, continuously building our pool of expertise, whilst simultaneously developing our offer. As a rail consultancy, we are acutely aware that clients have many choices as to where to put their trust, but we firmly believe that our depth of expertise and experience really helps us to ‘stand out from the crowd.’ The number of repeat requests for support that we receive would seem to suggest we are clearly doing something right!’

To find out more about AARC Professional Services Limited and how it can help your organisation, please contact Steve Derrick at steve.derrick@aarcps.co.uk. For further information, visit the AARC Professional Services website at https://www.aarcps.co.uk

Tel: 01543 472782

Email: info@aarcps.co.uk

Visit: www.aarcps.co.uk