CAF has appointed Morson Edge as the exclusive recruitment supplier for its two UK businesses, CAF Rolling Stock UK and CAF Rail UK.
The initial three-year agreement covers permanent and temporary appointments, as well as executive recruitment. Morson Edge joined CAF following a multi-stage competitive tender in June and transferred 70 contractors to a new system within six weeks, with no attrition reported.
Supporting CAF’s expansion
The recruitment partnership will cover roles ranging from engineering and technical specialists to finance, human resources, quality, planning and procurement positions.
CAF’s recruitment needs are expected to grow as the company delivers several major contracts. These include a contract worth more than €500m to build and maintain LNER’s tri-mode intercity fleet. CAF has also opened a £10m overhaul facility in Manchester, where its headcount is expected to double as activity increases.
Iain Taylor, head of HR and support at CAF Rail UK, said: “From the outset it was clear that Morson is the right partner for our next phase of growth. Not only is it robust and experienced as a business, but we’re aligned on the importance of social value.”
Jenny Buck, head of HR and support services at CAF Rolling Stock UK, said Morson had “already proven its value in the first months” of the relationship. She added that the implementation had been well guided and that Morson’s inclusive technologies would support CAF’s equality, diversity and inclusion objectives.
Social value commitment
As part of the agreement, Morson Edge has committed to providing almost £2m in social value support during the partnership. The activity will focus on community and people-led benefits alongside CAF’s business growth.
The companies have already held a joint volunteering day at Rail World Wildlife Haven, supporting the conservation charity with employees’ time and skills. Further initiatives are planned.
Gary Smithson, managing director at Morson Edge, said the partnership aligned with both companies’ growth ambitions and social value commitments. He said it would strengthen Morson’s position in the rolling stock talent market and give it a deeper understanding of how to source and support specialist rail workers.