Polly Rivers

Said the following about Scott Harrison:

“Scott joined the rail industry in 1996, after a long period working in civils plant overseas –things running on rails were as alien to him as the cold UK weather. Over twenty years later, he is the global director of rail for one of the world’s largest manufacturing corporations, looking after four continents, and five brands. Not bad for a Donny lad!

Scott started his working life with just a CSE in woodwork, and a passion to follow his father into the world of big machines. At Torrent, he discovered his flair for management, and under the guidance of David McNair, Scott sat his Business Management degree, graduating DeMontfort University. He now ensures training is a key part of his employee’s working life, and is a stickler for ensuring CPD requirements within the workplace are met, helping guarantee a safe, secure future in the industry for the next generation.

When he joined Network Rail, the PICOW system was in place, but under review. Scott was heavily involved in the development and implementation of the COSS system. Alongside Steve Diksa, Scott worked on scoping the requirements via psychometric assessments of a wide range of PICOWs, machine controllers and managers to best understand people’s interpretation of what the competencies did. This information was fed into the competencies programme, which allowed for the Controller of Site Safety (COSS) competency scheme to be implemented as an industry standard.

There are plenty of people within the rail world who will have groaned at the sight of Scott, along with Network Rail sidekicks Mike Fallows and Andy Ellis, darkening their depot doorway during his time at Network Rail. However, having worked with many of the plant operating organisations, both in the UK and Europe, Scott has built a loyal friendship group within the rail family, and is often stated as being a walking rail Rolodex – along with having an almost encyclopaedic knowledge of UK rail plant!

His knowledge of plant came in useful when he was given the task of organising the first Westwood Plant show in 2011 alongside Ray Caines - which later gave way to the Rail Live exhibition, led by Steve Featherstone’s team. Scott was on hand to help with the first Rail Live show, helping Steve’s team source the location, and liaise with the team at Rail Alliance throughout the planning stages. His stand, featuring many of Network Rail’s biggest suppliers was a huge hit, although many will remember the event more for his ‘lightning bolt moment’ on set up day, than the quality of his on-stand Slush Puppies!

As well as making plenty of friends within the industry during his time at Network Rail, Scott also managed to scoop some coveted awards, such as the Network Rail ‘You Make the Difference Award’ in 2007, which he was awarded (alongside Robert Stewart formerly Network Rail now of QTS, and Willie McBride, formerly TME Glasgow now Saudi Arabia Railway) for their work on the West Highland re-sleeping project. The result of the project was the development of a safer, more effective way of replacing wooden and concrete sleepers, which culminated in 146 sleepers being installed in just one possession. This allowed an increase in safety, and reduction in renewals cost - efficiencies that are carried through every subsequent control period.

Having ensured that his own unique Yorkshire-brand of rail charm has been spread thoroughly through Network Rail, the plant world and most of the UK, recently Scott has set his sights a little further – and this year accepted a promotion within his current organisation, SPX Flow, placing him at the helm of rail globally, and the head of four other brands within EMEA. He holds responsibility for the UK and Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa for rail, and has already burst onto the scene in Australia, with AusRail 2016 left reeling after he and Iqbal Chadda, his SPX Flow teammate, gave them the Harrison Charm – the exhibition team are braced for 2017! Following the 2016 Antipodean Expedition, SPX Flow Rail Systems are celebrating contract developments for the Sydney and Melbourne Metro POE Upgrade and Replacement projects.

Although his role takes him away from the UK, Scott continues to give back to the industry. He looks forward to hosting round table events at the Rail Exec Club, and will welcome guests to the Tunnelling and Civil Engineering table, giving plenty of opportunity to impart hard-won wisdom following his involvement with projects such as the Severn Tunnel Brickwork Replacement Programme, and other maintenance and renewals related civil engineering projects.“