HSBC Rail Business Awards recognises freight achievements
Issue: Autumn 2009
In recent times there has been little chance for rail freight companies to gain recognition for their contribution to the industry, despite now making up a significant proportion of all rail journeys. However, that has all started to change with the introduction of the Rail Freight Excellence category at the HSBC Rail Business Awards last year.
The award seeks to recognise achievements across the freight industry and creates an opportunity for companies to tell the world about their successes. 
The Rail Freight Excellence Award is open to any business operating within the UK’s rail freight industry and recognises the introduction, and development, of new products and services for the rail freight industry; adaption of current services and products; attraction of new freight to rail; innovation and flexibility in meeting customer requirements; communication with customers and suppliers; performance improvements; and revenue and business growth.
Now in its twelfth year, the HSBC Rail Business Awards is one of the most important dates on the rail industry calendar. Even before the ceremony takes place, all entrants are promoted in a special dedicated supplement in Rail Professional magazine, which is also distributed on the big night itself to an audience of more than 800 senior railway staff.
Not only is the ceremony a great night out but an ideal opportunity to rub shoulders with others in your industry. For those that do pick up an award it is a cost-effective way to promote your company’s efforts and boost staff morale, something which last year’s winners, The Malcolm Group, a leading provider of logistics and construction services, can testify to as worthy winners of the inaugural Rail Freight Excellence award.
The Malcolm Group’s Marketing Manager Helen Ryan, says: “Winning the Rail Freight Excellence Award at last year’s HSBC Rail Business Awards was a great achievement for the Malcolm Group. The award itself is prestigious and as winners it has enhanced our stature within the rail freight industry. On attending the awards ceremony it allowed us to see what other companies within the rail freight industry were undertaking, which in itself was something we found to be very useful.
“Since winning the award, we have received a great deal of favourable publicity, which has provided our PR and marketing activities with a considerable boost.”
Sponsoring the Freight Excellence Award for a second year in a row is leading freight lessor VTG Rail UK. With a fleet of more than 1,500 wagons, Birmingham based VTG is Britain’s largest private wagon hire company. In the last 12 months, VTG has sustained its place in the rail freight sector with some impressive contract wins and performance figures.
Since last summer the company achieved a significant development in its bulk fleet with the delivery of the first 50 of 89 brand new coal hoppers being built for freight operator First GBRf. The delivery represented a major milestone for VTG, marking its debut into the UK coal market. As well as entering the UK coal market, VTG increased its presence in several other sectors of the rail freight industry.
In January the company signed a 15 year agreement with Tarmac Buxton Lime and Cement for the purchase and lease back of its key 50 wagon fleet, while August saw the arrival in the country of the first nine of 20 new open hopper wagons for Mendip Rail.
Rob Brook, MD, VTG Rail UK, comments: “We are very happy to be sponsoring the Rail Freight Excellence Award for the second year running. We feel that it is very important that there is a category specifically for companies in the rail freight sector who are making a huge difference to the economy, as well as to the environment, by reducing the volume of freight traffic on our roads.”
Helen Ryan offers a few hints for those thinking of entering the Freight Excellence Award: “The main advice we would offer entrants for this year’s awards is to remember that the judges are looking for attention to detail, so candidates should never underestimate the importance of the information they supply when it comes to completing the Awards application.”
The HSBC Rail Business Awards will take place on Thursday 11th February, 2010, at the London Hilton, 22 Park Lane, London W1K 1BE.
The Rail Business Awards 2009 are now open for submissions.
To enter, please visit: www.railbusinessawards.com or call Simon King, at Woodhouse Communications on 01444 221000.
Published: 05/10/2009
