Ford & Stanley is a Derby-based consultancy that specialises in offering innovative talent services in order to support employers. The company has now been awarded a three-year contract which makes them the exclusive recruitment partner for Unipart Rail, which is part of the Unipart Group.

Unipart Rail is a global business which works in development, manufacture, logistics and consultancy in order to create both products and services to support its customers’ needs. Working with infrastructure, signalling and rolling stock, the company has an impressive customer list of Operators, Rolling Stock Companies, Infrastructure Owners and Contractors.

Prior to Unipart Rail awarding the contract to Ford & Stanley, the two companies worked successfully together in 2022, which saw an aim made to form a partnership agreement during 2023.

Ford & Stanley will now carry out the provision of permanent and contract recruitment services, including white collar and executive search for all business disciplines over the next 2 to 3 years.

Wanda Elliott, Human Resource Director, Unipart Rail said:

“As part of a review of our recruitment processes within Unipart Rail, we were exploring new initiatives that would enable our business to secure a competitive advantage in a highly competitive recruitment and candidate market.”

“We wanted to move away from transactional recruitment with several suppliers to a long-term collaborative partnership and were looking for a recruitment partner with a strong track record of delivering successful recruitment partnerships, who understands and operates within our varied areas of expertise, and whose values are aligned with our own.”

“Our biggest asset is our people, so finding the right partner to provide us with the right people was essential to underpin our growth and to ensure we have the right capability to support our customers in improving the performance of their operations; positioning us as the Performance Improvement Partner for the rail industry.”

“Ford & Stanley came forward with the most innovative, low maintenance, yet highly effective solutions; alongside a proven track record of successfully delivering major recruitment partnerships with similar sized ambitious businesses. With their independent yet synergetic 3 business verticals, specialising in Blue Collar, White Collar and Executive Search, they were able to provide us with a one-stop, quality solution from shop floor to boardroom.”

“Ford & Stanley understand our business, represent us well in the market and are able to provide us with value beyond that of just finding great people. They are personable, pleasant to do business with and confident enough to consultant and challenge our business to be better, in the right way. This is why we have chosen to award them a three-year exclusive recruitment partnership agreement.”

Daniel Taylor, Director, Ford & Stanley Group commented: “Our partnership with Unipart Rail is based on a shared commitment to excellence and a multi-disciplinary approach. Together, we aim to deliver exceptional services and provide a range of modern recruitment solutions beyond sourcing top talent.”

After a successful initial 12 months of working together, developing relationships and learning we are delighted to be awarded the contract and are relishing the opportunity to build further on the successes already achieved”.

“News of the contract follows the recent announcement of Ford & Stanley’s new five-year deal with Spanish firm and global leader in train manufacturing CAF, further extending its successful partnership.”

“As well as providing a dedicated account delivery team to Unipart Rail, Ford & Stanley has pledged several sustainability-driven commitments, including its ‘A Tree For Every Placement’ initiative.”

“A long-term advocate of sustainability and wellbeing, Ford & Stanley Group also runs its own environmental scheme in conjunction with the Better Workdays Trust, the Better Workdays Conservation Meadow, a three-acre site in Derbyshire, dedicated to conservation, teamwork and mental fitness.”

“As part of our partnership agreement with Unipart Rail, each time a hire is successfully appointed, we plant an oak tree that provides up to 500 years of daily environmental benefit will be realised.”