Returning for the 4th year in a row, raising £30,000 – on Thursday 3rd October – we partnered directly with Railway Children for the annual Advance TRS Golf Day at Celtic Manor in Wales. 

With an 11 am shotgun start, the golfers throughout the day, took part in a series of competitions with entry fees that went directly to Railway Children – including Nearest the Pin, Longest Drive and Beat the Pro.  

The Course 

Roman Road course – a 70-par challenge that overlooks the Severn Estuary with views across to Somerset and Devon. Designed by Robert Trent Jones Senior, this challenging course features some long open fairways but also a number of twists and turns through trees and across streams. 

The Evening – Speakers

In the evening, we were delighted to have two guest speakers join us and share their insights and stories on their past successes.

Mark Wild OBE – CEO of HS2 

Mark Wild
CEO HS2

Mark Wild has more than 35 years of experience leading complex and critical infrastructure. He assumed the CEO leadership role at Crossrail in 2018, Europe’s largest construction project and a £20 billion programme delivering one of the world’s most advanced digital passenger railways. Mark joined the team for golf and kindly spoke after dinner, answering questions from business leaders across the rail sector. 

Mark Wild | LinkedIn 

Ronnie Irani 

Ronnie Irani
Retired English cricketer

Ronnie Irani is a retired English cricketer who garnered much praise for his impact in One Day Internationals from the mid-90’s to the early 2000’s. Ronnie joined the team for a couple of days of golf and brought his dynamic energy to the event.  

Ronnie Irani | LinkedIn

Launching AMC 

This year we took the opportunity to introduce our new brand, Advance TRS Management Consultancy, to the attendees. Advance TRS Management Consultancy is a bespoke service that builds upon our legacy of excellence in recruitment to offer unparalleled expertise in Project/Programme Management, Commercial, and Contract Management within the built environment, with a particular focus on transport and aviation infrastructure. 

Advance TRS Management Consultancy

Thank You 

We would like to thank our sponsors who have made this feat possible not only this year but for the last 4 years and to AECOM, AtkinsRéalis, Balfour Beatty, Bam Nuttall, Clipfine, GHD, Gleeds, Mace, Dragados, Turner & Townsend and Vinci Construction for the support this year. 

Railway Children 

Railway Children has been fighting for children alone and at risk on the street for over 25 years. During this time, they have reached more than 275,000 children in India, the UK, and East Africa. 

Children run away or are forced to leave home, where they suffer poverty, violence, and neglect. They find themselves living on the streets because there is nowhere else to, and no one left to turn to. The problems they face on the streets are often even worse than those they endured at home. Every day they fight to change their story. 
 
Rail Aid is a major fundraising initiative in support of Railway Children, the Rail industry’s charity. It was launched in direct response to the Covid-19 outbreak, which has made our work with vulnerable young people even more vital. 

Advance TRS founder, Andy Ridout and a few other members of our team have completed numerous challenges such as climbing Mt Everest and Kilimanjaro, Ride Vietnam Challenge, Three Peaks By Rail 2023. These are just some of the amazing challenges we have done to raise funds for Railway Children. 

Supporting charities is a core element of life at Advance TRS, Since its establishment, our staff has raised over £100,000 for charities including Railway Children and Action for Children. Taking on personal challenges and fundraising activities to advance others has been a core founding principle and staff are encouraged to support charitable causes. 

Advance TRS Charity Events Recap 2023

Making a Difference in the Community: Our Local Impact and Initiatives

Railway Children

Join Us

Advance TRS are always looking for more people to join the team, Find out more about our latest vacancies

At Advance TRS, we believe that success isn’t just about delivering exceptional recruitment services—it’s about making a lasting, positive impact on the communities we serve. As a rapidly growing recruitment consultancy, we are committed to giving back through various charitable and community-focused initiatives. Whether it’s volunteering our time, raising funds for important causes, or sponsoring local events, we’re passionate about making a difference. 

Volunteering: Giving Time to Make a Difference 

We believe that everyone has the power to contribute to their community, and we actively encourage our team to get involved through volunteering. From participating in charity events to supporting local causes, our employees are dedicated to making a difference beyond the workplace. Volunteering provides our team with an opportunity to give back while building strong connections with their colleagues and the local community. 

Charity Fundraising: Raising Funds for Causes That Matter 

Our commitment to charity is one of the core values that define Advance TRS. Over the years, we have proudly raised over £100,000 for various charities, including Railway Children, Water Aid, and Macmillan Cancer Support. We’ve taken part in an array of fundraising challenges, from Tough Mudder’s and fire walks to mountain climbs and marathons. These events not only help raise vital funds for important causes but also foster a sense of camaraderie and team spirit within our business. 

Whether we’re riding 100 miles for charity or doing a sponsored walk, we are always looking for new and exciting ways to support the charities we care about. And our ambition doesn’t stop here—we’re eager to continue growing our charitable efforts and raise even more in the years to come. 

Advance TRS Take on the WaterAid Dragon Boat Race

Local Sponsorships: Supporting Our Community 

We’re also passionate about supporting local organisations and events through sponsorships. By partnering with local businesses, schools, and sports teams, we aim to foster long-term relationships that benefit our community. Our sponsorship efforts provide essential funding for local projects and create opportunities for young people and community groups to grow and thrive. 

Recap of Advance TRS 2023 Charity Events

Training Opportunities: Building Skills in the Community 

At Advance TRS, we’re not only focused on recruitment but also on nurturing talent and offering training opportunities to help individuals in our community develop valuable skills. We offer work experience placements, training programmes, and opportunities for young professionals to gain insight into the recruitment industry. By investing in people, we aim to create a lasting positive impact that helps build stronger, more resilient communities. 

Training & Development: Empowering you to grow at Advance TRS

Help Us Make a Difference 

At Advance TRS, we’re proud of the impact we’ve made in our local communities, and we’re always looking for new ways to expand our reach. Whether through volunteering, charity fundraising, local sponsorships, or providing training opportunities, we’re dedicated to making a real difference. 

Want to be part of a team that makes a difference? Explore careers at Advance TRS.

As 2023 draws a close, it provides us with an invaluable opportunity to reflect on the outstanding charitable events undertaken by our employees, aimed at raising funds for noble causes for organizations like Railway Children, Cancer Research, and MacMillan

At Advance TRS, our Founder and Managing Director, Andy Ridout has consistently provided support and motivation to the team, urging them to embrace personal challenges, step out of their comfort zones, and contribute to charitable causes by raising funds. This year saw our team participate in 6 charity events.

Three Peaks by Rail

In 2023 the first charity event our employees participated in was the Three Peaks by Rail. On the 15th June, the Advance team of Louise, Tom, Jake, and Sam embarked on an enduring 3-day mountain challenge. This tested various physical and mental; attributes including endurance, mental resilience, and physical fitness.

Our commitment to supporting Railway Children has been longstanding. This organization is dedicated to aiding vulnerable children living on the streets. Through our efforts, we were able to raise an impressive £4,000 for this cause.  

Pretty Muddy Challenge

In June, the women of the Guildford office participated in the “Pretty Muddy Challenge” to demonstrate their unwavering support for Cancer Research.

This event served as a significant platform to showcase their dedication and determination to effect positive change in the lives of cancer patients and their families. Upon the finish line, they not only commemorated their individual achievements but also acknowledged the collective impact of their efforts.  Our collective fundraising efforts resulted in an impressive donation of £600 to support Cancer Research.

Advance TRS Golf Day for Rail Aid

In September we had the return of our annual Golf Day for Rail Aid. This year’s golf day was at Celtic Manor. The event boosted participation from a total of 18 fourballs.

With outstanding prizes to win, complemented by a wide selection of amazing experiences in our auction. We raised a magnificent £14,000 for a great cause. Added to the previous year’s totals, we are immensely proud to announce that Advance TRS Golf Day for Rail Aid has now raised a total of £57,395 benefiting underprivileged children in the UK, Africa, and India.

Pictures of our charity events

Macmillan Coffee Morning

In October we held a coffee morning in support of Macmillan Cancer Support. This event saw a bake-off competition come to the Guildford office, with Lily taking home star baker for her exceptional blondies. This was a great opportunity to have some run and raise some money for Macmillan.

Business Fives

This November the Advance TRS team represented by the boys, has joined the 5-a-side football competition organized by Business Fives. The participation is not just about scoring goals, it is about making a meaningful impact.

They are proud to be supporting the Little Roo Neonatal Fund, a charity that holds a special place in our managing director Andy’s heart and is dedicated to providing crucial support to the Neonatal care unit at St Peter’s Hospital in Chertsey, Surrey.

Their dedication has been shown through having raised an incredible £220 for this noble cause.

Still to come this year…

Christmas Jumper Day

To conclude an extraordinary year of charity events, we are wrapping it up with a festive touch. Christmas Jumper Day. On December 14th, our entire team across all offices will be wearing their most cheerful Christmas jumpers, all in support of the wonderful cause of Save the Children.

This year we take immense pride in our remarkable contribution to numerous charitable causes, making a significant impact by raising a staggering sum of £18,855 Our dedication has left an indelible mark on the lives of those in need.

Join the team

Are you eager to be part of a business that not only thrives on success but also believes in giving back it its community? Then check out our Work for Us page now.

Once again, the team at Advance TRS got involved in fundraising activities, this time to help the amazing children’s charity Railway Children, which we have been involved with numerous times in the past. 

At Advance TRS, helping charities by fundraising regularly is at the heart of what we do. We care about others and we want to help make a difference.

The charity

Railway Children has been fighting for children alone and at risk on the streets for over 22 years. During that time, they’ve reached more than 275,000 children in India, the UK and East Africa.

Children run away or are forced to leave home where they suffer poverty, violence, abuse and neglect. They find themselves living on the streets because there is nowhere else to go and no one left to turn to. The problems they face on the streets are often even worse than those they endured at home. 

Railway Children’s pioneering work enables them to get to street children before the streets get to them. You can read more about this brilliant charity on their website.

Last year, the charity’s ‘Sleepout’ was very popular, however, for obvious reasons it wasn’t possible to repeat the event this year, and therefore, the equally successful ‘Sleep In’ was launched. 

Help us make a difference

Changing the format of the event meant the whole family was able to join in and give up the comfort of their usual beds for one night, by sleeping in whatever temporary camp they set up at home. Many of our colleagues built dens in their living rooms which you can see on our Instagram page.  

We set ourselves an ambitious target of £500 to raise for Railway Children. We recognise the impact the past year has had on everyone, including charities, and we would love to be able to help them make a difference! 

We haven’t reached our target yet and are grateful for every single donation, no matter how big or small! Our JustGiving page is still live and if you would like to donate, you can do so here.

Thank you to everyone for your generosity!

The charity Railway Children is incredibly important to the Advance TRS team, especially to our founder and Group MD Andy Ridout, who has seen first-hand the work the charity does on the streets in Africa and Nepal. 

Rail Aid

This year Railway Children have launched the Rail Aid mission, bringing the best of the UK rail community together to raise money and to support children around the world who have been struggling with the impacts of COVID. 

The UK lockdown has forced children to stay in homes where they didn’t feel safe, without the escape and protection of school. The extra stress placed on families already at breaking point has in many cases left young people even more vulnerable to grooming, exploitation by drugs gangs and mental health trauma. 

In India, millions of families have lost jobs, income and homes due to the pandemic, often leaving people to fear starvation more than the virus itself. Desperation has forced millions of children into child labour and marriage while others are simply being abandoned, left to traffickers and exploitation.

In Tanzania, children living in abject poverty relied on the one meal a day they got at school. When schools closed many headed to the streets to beg and scrounge for food, only to be subjected to brutal police round-ups and violence without access to food, water, sanitation or safety.

Rail Aid will send money directly to the communities most in need, using the established Railway Children network to support the most vulnerable children across the world to access help, food and support. 

Advance TRS Fundraising

Since establishing in 2011, giving back to those less fortunate and advancing others has been a central motivator for Andy and the growing Advance TRS team. Having personally championed Railway Children at different industry events for several years, he doesn’t want to miss the opportunity to help the charity make a difference, especially during these difficult times.

This year, more than ever physical activity has been essential to keep mind and body strong and healthy so the team is combining physical activity with fundraising to support Railway Children’s Rail Aid Campaign. 

Andy is leading the Advance TRS team in completing a virtual ‘triathlon’ of sorts to raise money for this fantastic charity. The team aims to cover as much ground as possible by walking, running, cycling or even doing HIIT workouts, all whilst staying safe and adhering to social distancing guidelines. 

Each team member is recording themselves in their activity which will be collated for what should make for a very entertaining video at the end of the month. (Watch this space!)

Donate

Please support the team to keep on moving this November by donating to our JustGiving fundraising page which you can access here. All donations for this amazing cause are greatly appreciated.

You are probably familiar with the annual event, Movember which involves the growing of moustaches during November to raise awareness of health issues men face, such as prostate cancer and testicular cancer. Another focus of the movement is on mental health and suicide prevention.

Whilst working more remotely this year our team members have taken up the challenge and been growing tashes themselves – more or less successfully to raise money for the Movember Foundation. 

To support the Advance TRS Mo Bros, we have set up our Movember fundraising page which you can access here. We think this is a brilliant cause and all donations are greatly appreciated. 

Money raised during Movember is put towards increasing early cancer detection, diagnosis and effective treatments, and ultimately reducing the number of preventable deaths. The Movember Foundation highlights the need for men to be aware of family history of cancer, adopt a healthier lifestyle and it encourages annual check-ups.

Follow our fundraising activities on LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter for the latest news and take a look at our Advance Advice on Mental Health for further information.