Recruiter on track for expansion

LEEDS-based staffing agency Leda Recruitment is boosting its already successful rail sector division ahead of Network Rail's £2bn improvement programme.

Leda has already exceeded its growth targets for this financial year in the rail sector with division turnover expected to exceed £10m. Company turnover is predicted to reach in excess of £21m.

The rail division is already an accredited Network Rail supplier of specialist expertise in track safety, crane and machine controllers and overhead line staff.

Investment by the Olympic Delivery Authority to create light rail services for the 2012 Olympics signals further growth in the rail and transport sector.

Howard Slinger, Leda's managing director, said:

“Specialist skills are at a premium in certain sectors with rail and transport being one such area.”

Leda has already recruited more staff to cope with the increased in demand and has created a new rail safety team to bring its services in line with Network Rail's comprehensive health and safety requirements.

The team, which is headed by Gary Lobue, will supply specialist training for the 400 staff regularly supplied by Leda.

Mr Lobue said: “We supply staff to major contractors and having this comprehensive training facility in house gives us added credibility with our customers and workforce.

“The industry quite rightly places a huge emphasis on health and safety. As safety and training manager I oversee the training and competence for Leda's rail division database operatives. I also act as safety advisor and investigations manager in the event of an accident or incident.”

Leda Recruitment is one of the longest established privately owned recruitment agencies in the UK supplying temporary and permanent staff in the rail, building and civil engineering, consultancy and design services, mechanical and electrical and office support services sectors.

It supplies many of the UK's biggest contractors including Jarvis, O' Rourke, Wates, Bluestone and Kier.