RailStaff sat down with the founders of Advance TRS Management Consultancy, to discuss the success of their innovative and agile venture.
Since 2011, Advance TRS has been known as a go-to recruitment specialist for the rail, water, highways, energy, and aviation sectors. With specialist industry experts leading skilled recruitment teams, the firm is characterised by its deep industry knowledge and extensive experience in the sectors it recruits for.
The firm works with some of the world’s largest engineering organisations and has provided solutions for the nation’s most notable rail projects. It is an approved supplier to a number of industry-leading organisations including Alstom, Network Rail, and Babcock.
Andy Ridout, founder and managing director of Advance TRS, and James Bowry, a senior project management leader, recognised a gap in the market for a management consultancy that blends industry expertise with a hands-on delivery approach – a business that not only understands the industry inside out but also gets stuck in to deliver real results. The idea for Advance TRS Management Consultancy was formed.
“Using the Advance TRS brand and the infrastructure that Andy has built over the years, we’ve set up Advance TRS Management Consultancy together and we’ve seen some early successes and we’re carrying on that momentum. We’re growing, but we’re making sure that’s sustainable growth and we don’t want to dilute the company culture that we’ve established.”
Following a soft online launch, Advance TRS Management Consultancy began to define its core services, target sectors, and business model – focusing on agility, rapid deployment, and people-centric solutions.
One such early success is the consultancy’s involvement in the Midland Mainline Electrification (MMLE) project – the most significant upgrade to the route since 1870. Supporting Network Rail in delivering this nationally important infrastructure programme, Advance TRS Management Consultancy provides senior commercial leadership to manage the performance of complex route clearance and electrification works.
With strategic oversight of cost, resources, and stakeholder engagement, the consultancy plays a key role in enabling the upgrade of the Overhead Line Equipment (OLE) from 120mph to 125mph. Its contribution ensures that works remain commercially aligned with project milestones and the UK Government’s net zero ambitions, reinforcing the value of hands-on consultancy in driving forward major decarbonisation projects.
Redefining consultancy
In April 2024, Advance TRS Management Consultancy launched as a disruptor in the consultancy space, having secured key contracts across the transport and aviation industries, partnering with Network Rail, Heathrow Airport, and HS2. Though it is still growing, Advance TRS Management Consultancy is already redefining the consultancy landscape by focusing on flexibility, people-first solutions, and speed to deploy.
“One of the jewels in our crown is the strength of our established network,” says James. “Through Andy’s 30 years of growing engineering recruitment businesses, we have direct access to a highly skilled and ready-to-go talent pool.”
“This means we never have to compromise on quality. Every individual we deploy through Advance TRS Management Consultancy has been thoroughly vetted, aligned to our values, and is already embedded in our network.”
“We’re backed by a £45 million turnover recruitment business that’s deeply specialised in our core sectors,” adds Andy. “That gives us access to exceptional market insight and a network that delivers real value to both candidates and clients. It’s a key differentiator, and the results are speaking for themselves.”
However, the two make clear that while Advance TRS Management Consultancy’s relationship with Advance TRS is a major selling point, the two businesses remain distinct and separate.
People first
Advance TRS Management Consultancy’s business model is also underpinned by a people-centric culture, which ensures that employees are valued, motivated, and supported in their professional growth.
“We wanted to build a consultancy that was based on integrity and put its people before everything else while also being ambitious and successful,” says James. “Those remain the real cornerstones of the business.”
While Advance TRS Management Consultancy is still in its early stages of growth, its strong foundations and agile approach enable it to compete with larger consultancies in a different way, offering a more tailored, responsive, and distinctive experience for its clients.
Our unique selling point is speed of deployment,” says James. “We have the agility and focus to mobilise high-quality candidates quickly, reducing lead times and getting projects up and running faster than traditional consultancies.”
And, while business in the rail industry is relatively subdued at present, Advance TRS Management Consultancy’s unique positioning allows it to make the most of the opportunities that are out there.
“The fact that CP7 has not been as buoyant as people were expecting means that there are some very good people available that may not have previously been,” Andy says. “We’re capitalising on the stillness of the market to get some very good people into our business. Being small and growing is currently working in our favour.”
Looking ahead
Since its launch, Advance TRS Management Consultancy has continued to expand its presence in rail and transport and across other key infrastructure sectors. With new projects, ongoing recruitment of top-tier talent, and a growing reputation for excellence, it is poised to become a leading force in infrastructure project delivery.
The next phase of Advance TRS Management Consultancy’s journey will see further expansion into Construction Management and HSQE, cementing its position as a trusted partner for complex infrastructure projects.
The firm is on an exciting trajectory, offering unique opportunities for professionals looking to work on high-impact projects. As a consultancy that blends expertise, innovation, and rapid execution, Advance TRS Management Consultancy is committed to delivering excellence in every project it undertakes.
To learn more, visit www.atrs-mc.com
Advance TRS’s Charity Golf Day 2025
As well as driving a recruitment firm and management consultancy to continuing success, Andy still finds time for charitable causes. RailStaff has previously reported on Advance TRS’s charity Golf Day and the wheels are in motion for the next event.
Organised by Advance TRS in partnership with Railway Children, 2024’s Golf Day was the most successful yet, raising an impressive £30,000 for the much-loved cause. With incoming HS2 CEO Mark Wild OBE as the day’s guest speaker, the event attracted key stakeholders from the industry, including representatives from AtkinsRéalis, Turner & Townsend, Vinci Construction, AECOM, Balfour Beatty, BAM Nuttall, Clipfine, Mace Dragados, Gleeds, and GHD.
Andy is a long-term supporter of Railway Children and has seen first-hand the impact that money raised at events like the golf day has, for children here in the UK as well as in India and Tanzania, where Railway Children has local teams working with street-connected children to give them the care, support and opportunity they need to change their futures.
Despite this, Andy remains exceptionally humble about his part in bringing this annual event to life.
“Although it’s an Advance TRS event, Andy is behind a lot of the hard work and he should certainly be recognised for that,” says James. “He’s much too modest in that respect!”
Golf Day 2025 takes place at Hanbury Manor Marriott Hotel & Country Club on 25 September. All profits will help vulnerable children access the care and support they need to transform their futures.
