Team category: Rail Team

Karen Upton is Lead Delivery Manager at Advance TRS, bringing more than 26 years of recruitment experience across the rail, construction and infrastructure sectors.

Specialising primarily in contract recruitment, Karen supports clients across Engineering, Project & Programme Management, Planning & Controls, Commercial, Design & Consultancy, and Health, Safety, Environment & Quality (HSEQ). Working with Network Rail, Tier 1 contractors and major infrastructure organisations, she leads recruitment delivery across complex infrastructure projects, helping clients secure the specialist talent they need while supporting candidates throughout their careers.

Karen is known for her positive energy, approachable nature and genuine passion for helping people. She believes the best recruitment comes from building strong relationships, understanding what motivates people and always being open and honest. Whether she’s advising a candidate on their next career move or supporting a client with a critical hire, Karen takes pride in delivering a personal service built on trust and collaboration.

With more than two decades in the industry, Karen has developed an extensive network and a deep understanding of the infrastructure market. Her experience, combined with her willingness to share knowledge and support those around her, makes her a valued partner to clients, candidates and colleagues alike.

Karen is also passionate about encouraging more women into engineering and infrastructure, believing that greater visibility, confidence and supportive workplace cultures are key to helping people build successful long-term careers.

Outside of work, Karen enjoys hiking, travelling, reading and spending time with her family.

Whether you’re looking for your next contract opportunity or need specialist recruitment support across the infrastructure sector, Karen is always happy to have a confidential conversation.

Sam Mayo is Head of Telecoms & M&E at Advance TRS, bringing more than 26 years of specialist recruitment experience across the UK infrastructure sector. He leads recruitment across both contract and permanent markets, partnering with clients and candidates in telecommunications and mechanical & electrical (M&E) disciplines.

Working with contractors, consultancies, Tier 1 organisations and major infrastructure programmes, Sam recruits across the entire project lifecycle, from design and installation through to testing, commissioning, assurance, maintenance and handover. His expertise supports projects that deliver the systems and infrastructure essential to the safe, reliable and efficient operation of the railway, helping organisations secure the specialist talent needed to keep passengers informed, teams connected and services running smoothly.

Sam has extensive knowledge of railway telecommunications, recruiting professionals across both station and lineside systems. He recruits across Station Information and Surveillance Systems (SISS), CCTV, public address systems, customer information screens, public help points, access control, station networks and management systems, alongside operational telecommunications such as GSM-R, FTN, signal post telephones (SPTs), public emergency telephones (PETs), fibre and copper networks and transmission systems that support communication, safety and operational resilience across the rail network including at stations.

Alongside telecommunications, Sam recruits across the rail M&E sector, supporting projects involving station and lineside electrical infrastructure, lighting, low voltage (LV) power distribution, containment systems, points heating and wider mechanical and electrical installation, testing, commissioning and maintenance. He works with professionals across engineering, site supervision, project management and technical leadership, supporting projects from concept and design through to final delivery.

For Sam, recruitment is built on trust. He believes lasting partnerships are earned through honesty, consistency and delivering on commitments. By understanding each client’s challenges and every candidate’s ambitions, he provides market insight, practical advice and recruitment solutions that add genuine value, becoming a trusted partner throughout every stage of a project or career.

Outside of work, Sam is a dedicated family man who enjoys keeping active, spending time in the gym, travelling and discovering great food with family and friends.

Looking for specialist talent in Telecoms or M&E, or considering your next opportunity in the rail sector? Get in touch with Sam to discuss your requirements.