Network Rail

Network Rail approached us with their need to drive greater revenue from their property portfolio.

To do so, they needed sharp commercial development talent; however, previous recruitment campaigns had been unsuccessful.

Network Rail is a well-known brand, though it’s not immediately known in property development. The Development team at Macdonald & Company extensively worked to learn the finer details of Network Rail’s business to confidently address and misunderstandings of the development roles and culture.

Network Rail is the owner, operator and developer of Britain’s rail infrastructure. Its remit includes managing some of the country’s largest and busiest stations within its broader Industry & Commercial division, such as Birmingham New Street, Manchester Piccadilly, Edinburgh Waverley, Glasgow Central, Leeds, Bristol Temple Meads and 11 major stations across London. As part of its Railway Upgrade Plan, Network Rail regularly invests in station improvements to create destination stations that are accessible and support safe, efficient passenger movement.

Their Challenge & Our Solution

Network Rail engaged Macdonald & Company to help increase revenue from its property portfolio by attracting experienced commercial development professionals. Previous recruitment efforts had struggled to gain traction, partly because, despite its strong brand, Network Rail is not widely recognised within the property development sector. This perception, coupled with limited interest from other recruitment firms, created a distinct challenge.

Macdonald & Company took a different approach. We invested time to understand the nuances of Network Rail’s development strategy and culture, enabling us to position the opportunity more effectively.

Results

Our insight into Network Rail’s operations allowed us to accurately represent the roles and attract high-calibre candidates. The CVs we submitted were described by Network Rail as “of a very different level to what we have been able to attract previously” and “of a better standard than we had expected.”

Our commitment to client care and clear communication proved essential, particularly when engaging with sought-after candidates. This approach led to a strong conversion rate, with a team of two developers successfully placed. Network Rail recommends Macdonald & Company as a “professional, effective and easy to use consultant for those recruiting within the Property Development industry.”