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Home Guest Writers Amaro: Committed to providing best-in-class engineering across the UK’s rail network

Amaro: Committed to providing best-in-class engineering across the UK’s rail network

Amaro’s Managing Director, Micky Ewart, discusses his vision to further develop his business, leaving behind a legacy that he can be proud of.

For Micky Ewart, the future of Amaro is simple; “to be the most highly skilled, technical, and innovative Signalling and E&P rail company in the UK with engineering excellence at the heart of everything we do”.

In his first three years at specialist signalling firm Amaro, both he and his dedicated team have built solid foundations for expansion, the business growing from 10 employees to over 45, with a turnover more than doubling from £2.5 million to well over £5 million last year.

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But Micky isn’t one to rest on his laurels. Within just a few years he wants to see turnover rising to £10 million beyond, doubling the workforce in the process. Crucially, however, he’s determined to do this steadily and not at the cost of the reputation the company has built up.

“Amaro is committed to providing best-in-class quality engineering right across the UK’s rail network, ensuring that the health, safety and well-being of our team remains our number one priority at all times,” he said.

“As a business, we’re wholly committed to living and breathing our company values each and every day. From a personal standpoint, I’m seeing the development of Amaro as a 10-15 year project, building it into the business I know it can be and leaving a legacy we can all be proud of.

“It’s for me to take this on, build upon what we have and then for the next generation coming through to take the company forward.”

A trusted provider for Network Rail

Amaro Signalling has recently seen its Network Rail Principal Contractor Licence (PCL) being renewed after successfully passing a gruelling audit.

This renewal is a recognition of Amaro’s appropriate and robust health and safety, quality and environment management systems, helping their team to effectively carry out work under the Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2015.

“This is the result of months of hard work by a truly dedicated group of people. The highlights included zero non-conformance reports, fantastic feedback from the auditor and another three years as a PCL holder.”

Amaro

Since taking over as MD in October 2019, Micky has overseen Amaro’s appointment to four Network Rail signalling frameworks, including the five-year Signalling Minor Works Framework, covering the Southeast, and the Signal Structure Framework, focused upon the Wessex region.

In early 2021, Amaro was also appointed by Arcadis to provide safe systems of work, possession booking, line blockage and safety critical staff. Recent contract wins also include a 12-month project to support Arcadis in surveying OLE traction bonding across 440 miles of the Anglia Route. Around 50 per cent of Amaro’s work is still signalling, with increasing amounts of E&P work along with OLE, bonding works, E&P, LV and signalling power supplies.

Micky said: “Being appointed to the frameworks has allowed us to move forward as a business. While lockdown was a tricky period to navigate, we’ve taken the opportunity to develop the business and invest in plant, tools and equipment, a new fleet of vehicles, and, most importantly, in people. 

“We’ve recruited across all parts of the business, from management to our on-site teams, and now directly employ more than 45 people, working with various agencies to supplement as required.”

Looking to the future

While probably better known for its expertise in signalling, over the years Amaro has also forged an enviable reputation for excellence within LV, HV, OLE, offering the highest of standards of engineering and value.

Micky added: “Over the last three years, Amaro has gone from strength to strength, delivering projects throughout the rail infrastructure, evolving to become a hugely respected force within the nation’s rail industry.

“Our recent success with the PCL only adds to an already bright future for the company, with fantastic opportunities on the horizon and even greater relationships being formed. I’m genuinely excited for what the next few years will hold.

“Years ago I wanted to run my own business. Now I’ve got to where I wanted to be, the next step is to leave a legacy. For me, that legacy is for Amaro to be well known across the country as the most highly skilled, technical and innovative signalling and E&P rail company in the UK with engineering excellence at the heart of everything we do.

“More importantly, however, is that we seek to retain the respect, not only of our team and our clients, but of the rail industry as a whole. Amaro will remain a business that people want to become part of, that attracts the very best talent and retains them thanks to a culture of encouragement, opportunity, openness, and respect.”

Visit www.amarogroup.co.uk

Amaro

Photo credit: Amaro

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