Client Testimonial:
“We had a critical deadline for staffing multiple engineering roles on a high-profile rail station upgrade in Birmingham. Altariya understood the urgency and delivered pre-screened, fully qualified candidates within days. Their professionalism and attention to detail meant we could focus on project delivery instead of recruitment headaches.”
— James Whitfield, Head of HR, Hamilton & Rowe Construction Ltd.
Hamilton & Rowe Construction Ltd. is a UK-based civil engineering and infrastructure firm with over 40 years of experience in transport, energy, and commercial developments. Known for delivering large-scale projects across England, Scotland, and Wales, Hamilton & Rowe has built a strong reputation for meeting tight schedules without compromising safety or quality.
In early 2024, Hamilton & Rowe secured a contract to deliver a major upgrade to Birmingham’s central rail station — a key hub in the UK’s transport network. The project demanded 6 new hires in just two weeks, including civil engineers, site managers, and health & safety officers, all with Network Rail experience and valid PTS (Personal Track Safety) certifications.
Their in-house recruitment team was already fully occupied with staffing for a concurrent motorway expansion project. UK hiring channels produced many applicants, but few met the combination of rail experience and safety compliance required. Any delay in staffing would risk pushing the station upgrade off schedule, potentially triggering penalty clauses in the contract.
1. Rapid Role Analysis
We held an in-depth briefing with project and HR leads to capture every requirement — from technical rail engineering skills to UK-specific safety training and compliance.
2. Targeted Sourcing in the UK & Beyond
We used Altariya’s engineering talent database to source UK-based candidates with Network Rail-approved credentials and relevant station upgrade experience. We also tapped into our international network to find UK work permit holders with prior UK rail project history.
3. Rigorous Pre-Screening & Video Interviews
Each candidate went through:
A compliance and certification verification process (PTS, CSCS, SMSTS where applicable).
Technical interviews assessing station infrastructure and rail safety knowledge.
Competency-based video interviews so Hamilton & Rowe could review top candidates instantly.
4. Continuous Communication
We maintained daily progress calls with the client, adjusting sourcing parameters within hours whenever a role’s requirements shifted.
6 positions filled in 9 days — cutting the typical hiring cycle in half.
100% of candidates passed Network Rail compliance checks without issue.
Recruitment costs reduced by 25% compared to traditional UK agencies.
Project staffing completed ahead of schedule, avoiding potential contractual penalties.
