Advance TRS: Recap of the Year 2024

10th December 2024

This year has been packed with achievements, new ventures, and memorable moments. From celebrating our team’s successes to expanding into new markets, we’ve strengthened our position in the built environment sector. Here’s a look back at 2024’s highlights. 

Staff Achievements 

Anniversaries: 

We celebrated the dedication and contributions of four of our team members reaching career milestones. Our Rail & Infrastructure Director, Sam Jennings, achieved an impressive 10 years of service, whilst Katie Walker, Sean Brown and Jake Rodger all marked 5 years at Advance TRS!  

Promotions:  

Many of our team members advanced in their careers, this year. Congratulations to: 

Michelle Marsh – Head of Payroll Accounts & Credit Control 

Louise Oldham – Lead Delivery Manager 

Josh Hill – Lead Principal Consultant 

Ella Gilbody – Group Business Operations Director 

Michael Schruyers – Group Sales Operations Director 

Chris Spurdle – Group Business Development Manager 

Maia Devonshire – Senior Recruitment Resourcer 

Charlie Knight – Delivery Team Leader 

Alex Shaw – Lead Principal Consultant 

Calum French – Senior Recruitment Resourcer 

Charlotte Tunstall – Compliance Executive 

Everyone’s commitment and impact have been invaluable, and we’re proud to recognise their achievements. 

New Starters:  

We also welcomed fresh talent to our Sales and Business Services Teams: Jade Freer, Jessica McMahon, Callum Meek, Tommy Hurst, Elia Corkery, Billy Mitchell, Darryll Gibson, and Kirsten Lynch. We’re excited to have them on board and look forward to their contributions in the years ahead. 

Company Highlights 

This year saw two exciting launches for us – being milestones that demonstrate our ongoing commitment to growth, innovation, and delivering tailored solutions across the built environment. 

• The Launch of CITILINE: In February, we expanded our service portfolio with the introduction of CITILINE, a specialist Telecommunications and M&E recruitment consultancy. Led by Ben Shayegan, who has spent the last decade building his expertise at Advance TRS, CITILINE combines industry insight with an extensive network to deliver top-tier technical professionals. This new brand reflects our commitment to providing quality recruitment solutions across a growing range of industries. 

• Energy & Renewables Desk: We also launched a dedicated Energy & Renewables desk to meet the needs of this fast-evolving sector. Jake Jessey, with over 27 years of technical recruitment experience, now leads this division, supported by a team of industry experts. From Offshore Wind Engineers to HV Transmission specialists, we’re connecting businesses with the talent needed to power the future. 

Advance TRS Group launches new brand, CITILINE – Advance TRS 
Introducing Advance TRS’s Energy & Renewables Desk – Advance TRS 

Events and Conferences 

This year, we came together for many key events and celebrations. In April, we kicked things off with a company-wide conference, followed by a summer gathering at the beautiful Albury Vineyard. To close the year, our October conference took a creative twist as we hired out an Odeon cinema screen to spotlight everyone’s achievements and highlight company successes from the past quarter.

Incentives and Trips: 

We enjoyed some fantastic incentives and trips this year to celebrate our teams hard-work, including a visit to the South of France for our 100% Club and a festive outing to Winter Wonderland for the winners of our Christmas Quiz incentive.

Community and Charity Initiatives 

On the charity front, we continued our charity efforts with the 4th annual Advance TRS Golf Day in partnership with Railway Children, raising an impressive £30,000. Other initiatives included the Dragon Boat Race for WaterAid and some of the Guildford team taking part in Movember. Altogether, we’ve raised £108,068 for charity and are excited to continue fundraising for charities close to our hearts in 2025. 

Advance TRS Golf Day for Railway Children 2024  – Advance TRS 

Advance TRS Take on the WaterAid Dragon Boat Race   – Advance TRS 

Advance TRS raising money for Movember – Advance TRS 

Alongside our fundraising efforts, Sam Riley’s volunteer work with Young Rail Professionals has been a standout example of community involvement this year. He played a key role in organising events like the Chrome Angel Solutions Digital AI event in London, which brought together rail professionals to promote collaboration and innovation. His ongoing contributions to YRP reflect Advance TRS’s values and commitment to supporting industry growth and professional development. 

Sam Riley – Young Rail Professionals  – Advance TRS 

Young Rail Professionals Event: Sam Riley & Chrome Angel – Advance TRS 

Awards 

We ended the year on a high by being named Recruitment Firm of the Year at the Growing Business Awards. This recognition highlights the dedication and expertise of our team. Being acknowledged alongside leading organisations underscores the impact of our work and inspires us to keep delivering exceptional results for our clients, candidates, and contractors. 

Growing Business Awards 2024 – Advance TRS Recruitment Firm of the Year  

End of Year Thoughts 

2024 has been a year of progress and success, driven by the dedication of our team and the support of our clients, candidates, and contractors. As we wrap up the year, we’re excited to build on this momentum for an even better 2025.