RSS Infrastructure (RSSI), a leading supplier of infrastructure services, and INFRA Skills, the UK’s premier safety critical and non-safety critical training provider are delighted to announce they have been awarded the ‘Professional Services’ Award at the Birmingham Post Business Awards 2018.
Finalists are selected by a diverse group of experienced judges and, from that group of finalists, one winner from each category was chosen. As the sponsor for the ‘Professional Services’ category Wesleyan, a financial services firm and previous winner of ‘Company of the Year’ Award 2017, had the final judging decision and awarded this prestigious honour to RSS Infrastructure and Infra Skills.
The awards, sponsored by Champion, was held in front of 600 guests at the ICC Birmingham, celebrating business excellence and achievements across 15 different categories.
As part of the award submission process, RSSI and INFRA Skills demonstrated their strengths in service excellence, business growth, innovation, technology, training and personal development.
RSSI’s were recognised for their focus on leading technological innovations, delivering increased levels of safety and productivity. These fundamental principles have led the way for a series of initiatives that include the Semi-Automatic Track Warning System, Rostering and Fatigue Monitoring and Safe Driver Control Methods.
Well-known within the industry for establishing technology which can enhance safety, productivity and efficiency, RSSI are now one of the first rail companies in the UK to develop a mobile application that allows both drivers and workers to submit Close Calls and raise any safety concerns, which are actively managed by the company’s compliance team. The application allows workers to submit vehicle inspection reports directly to the Fleet department ensuring vehicles are kept in a roadworthy and safe state. Furthermore, the application allows for the submission of site inspections and end of shift reports, which provides the company with extensive insight and means that the company can actively engage with its workforce to ensure projects are completed on time.
INFRA Skills showcased their partnerships with local agencies, colleges, charities and government departments. As part of this partnership, INFRA Skills is supporting black minority ethnic groups, women, ex-offenders, ex-armed forces, young people, those with disabilities and individuals struggling to find employment by reducing the number of barriers facing them whilst trying to gain employment.
INFRA Skills also demonstrated their ability to deliver apprenticeship schemes on behalf of various clients. Working in collaboration with Colas Rail, they designed and delivered a bespoke apprenticeship scheme that focussed on creating a programme that provided learners with a route into the rail sector that hones their scientific, technical, engineering, mathematical and design skillsets. This was the UK’s first Level 3 Rail Apprenticeship standard, and aimed to make Rail Apprenticeships more flexible and focused on both the sectors requirements today as well as in the future by delivering courses that cover Plain Line, Signalling and Overhead Line Electrification.
Learners that join the fully funded training programme are provided with an excellent grounding on which to build their career and ultimately position themselves as ideal candidates for perspective employers. The bespoke course has been designed to meet the needs of today’s rail employers, and the success of this project has already enabled over 100 job seekers and benefits claimants to stop their dependency on benefits, and begin their journey into an exciting new career in rail.
Simon Welling, Director of Sales & Marketing with Wesleyan Bank commented on the details behind their award win: “From their submission, we could see that RSS Infrastructure and INFRA Skills are committed to tackling the challenges of the future. We were particularly impressed by their people development training programme and their proactive efforts to build a diverse and skilled workforce. Their work with the armed forces and projects to get job seekers and benefit claimants into employment stood out. They demonstrate a commitment to safe working and have shown innovation in this area.”
Richard Toy, CEO of RSS Infrastructure and INFRA Skills said: “This fantastic achievement is testament to the commitment and dedication of those working at RSSI and INFRA Skills for delivering ground-breaking solutions that are helping to provide a lasting legacy which will shape the future landscape of the West Midlands. We have achieved this through a series of initiatives that focus on technology that helps to improve safety and productivity and by working closely with the local community to deliver training programmes which provide people with sustainable career paths. “
