The RailStaff Awards 2024

Nominations for Rail Manager of the Year

Jack Pendle

Said the following about Andrew Fawkes:

“Andrew is a highly motivated individual with energy for a challenge.

Over the last three years Andrew has taken responsibility for VolkerRail‘s engineering apprentices. He has embraced this responsibility whilst continuing to undertake the very demanding role as project manager in the company’s signalling business.

Andrew took the first intake of four apprentices, three years ago; meticulously put together a programme matched both the needs of the business and their individual on-going development as Professional Engineers. He was later involved in the recruitment process for the next tranche of apprentices and has been asked to input year on year as the programme develops.

Andrew has mentored and guided the apprentices, ensuring he is always available to support during their time with VolkerRail. Two of the advanced apprentices have been nominated for apprentice of the year awards by their college this year, for their college work and their role within VolkerRail, which is testament to the support shown by Andrew in his role as mentor.“

Tina Cator

Said the following about Andrew Fawkes:

“To me the best managers are people who inspire, bring about excellent results and develop their team to levels beyond their own expectations; I think Andy epitomises all of these. Andrew is truly dedicated to his team and provides them with a level of service you would expect from someone far older than his years.

Andy does not just work behind a desk, he works on projects with multiple teams making sure everything is run as well as possible. He is a stickler for health and safety and will always ensure everyone does all that they can in a safe manner and never compromises the project. Andy can easily manage projects under tight deadlines, ensuring morale is high as well as output, while meeting the needs of the clients.

As well as his day job Andy also mentors a group of apprentices who we see as the poster children for apprenticeship schemes, each surpassing expectations and becoming great men, which was helped through the support and mentoring shown by Andy. He takes his time with each apprentice, helping them with their work, studies and person lives; providing support and guidance. Each member of his team feel they have someone they can look up to and become; they see him as a great manager and a friend.

Andy shines when he talks about his team, he doesn't shut up about how great they are and what they can achieve. Without his dedication VolkerRail’s apprenticeship scheme wouldn’t be what It is today.“

Barry Smith

Said the following about Andrew Fawkes:

“Andrew is employed as the Signalling Installation Manager within the Signalling & Power Division of VolkerRail. Although he has only held the role for two years, the division has seen the change that Andrew has brought to it. Not only has he brought stability, control and organisation to the team but he has invested a considerable amount of time to develop all levels of the team; the most notable being the succession planning to his own position.

Apart from undertaking this primary function he also undertakes multiple other roles such as Signalling Project Engineer and/or Contractors Responsible Engineer (CRE) in a direct role; as well as mentor to our apprentices and engineers on a number of projects.

Andrew’s participation not only guarantees delivery of the project on time and to budget, but allows an assistant project engineer to be brought on learning the ropes whilst not actually ‘tripping over’.

Andrew is also a Line Manager for all apprentices taking on four to five, 16-21 year apprentice engineers through a three year multidiscipline training programme, year in year out. Andrew developed this programme, meets with local colleges, HR and training department teams, to ensure the strategy proposed is the best we can offer. Although individual mentors are in place Andrew is always there for these young engineers, offering in or outside work support.“