Train firm on track to create 50 jobs after landing funding deal

Harry Needle Railway Company (HNRC) has landed a £2m funding line that the Chesterfield company says will create 50 jobs over the next five years.

The funding will help the company provide additional advanced rail engineering support services and develop greener locomotives with lower carbon emissions for its own fleet of locomotives and those of its customers.

HNRC was established in 1999 and provides rail engineering and support services to rail manufacturers and rail operating companies across its three sites all connected to the national rail network.

HNRC will increase its capacity and capabilities by adding an engineering shed space, a paint shop, and railway lines across its sites in Worksop and Chesterfield. The expansion of its greener locomotives R&D program will lead to the modification of existing locomotives to become eco-friendly and sustainable by improving engine combustion, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing sustainable fuel use while remaining cost-effective.

The investment was provided by Frontier Development Capital’s (FDC) Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative Recycled Fund (AMSCI). The AMSCI Recycled Fund aims to help businesses in the manufacturing sector supply chain by providing loan investment to drive growth and generate job creation.

The company previously secured a £1.6m loan in 2019 from FDC to buy and refurbish one of its Workshop sites.

Harry Needle, managing director at Harry Needle Railway Company, said:“HNRC has established itself as a leading provider of advanced rail engineering and support services. This further investment plan reflects our ongoing commitment to expand our range of rail engineering and support services as well as reduce our carbon footprint by developing greener locomotives for ourselves and for our customers.

“This funding from Frontier Development Capital, following the previous funding received in 2019, will help us to reach the next stage of our plans for growth and create crucial new job roles to support this growth.”

Jack Glonek, investment director at Frontier Development Capital, said: “Following FDC’s previous funding for HNRC, which helped the Company grow significantly, this further funding will enable it to continue its growth journey including the development of greener locomotives for the rail industry.

“Frontier Development Capital’s AMSCI Recycled Fund supports UK-based businesses to generate growth. This investment is an excellent opportunity for HNRC to expand and improve its green credentials and support job creation.”