Railway safety inspires award winning Crickhowell training company

Ensuring that there is no repeat of the Clapham Junction train crash in 1988 is one of the inspirations behind a thriving railway training company which was a winner at the Powys Business Awards 2022.

PM Training and Assessing Ltd, based in Crickhowell, proved it’s on the right track by winning the Micro Business Award, sponsored by WPG, at the annual awards ceremony held at Dering Lines, Brecon on Friday night.

Showcasing the diverse range of successful enterprises in the county, Powys Business Awards are organised by Mid Wales Manufacturing Group (MWMG) with support from sponsors.

PM Training and Assessing Ltd is run by husband and wife Paul and Pam Martin. Paul was an 18-year-old apprentice signal engineer when he attended the Clapham Junction train crash which made a lasting impression on him. Thirty-five people were killed in the crash which was caused by faulty wiring and signalling.

“The crash changed the whole signalling industry and also changed my attitude to work at the age of 18,” said Paul. “Our business aims to ensure that the chances of the disaster happening again are reduced by providing inspiring, creative, quality training.”

Pam joined forces with her husband in 2018 when, after 30 years working as a signal engineer, he was made redundant following the collapse of Carillion. She previously ran a micro training business delivering trainer and assessor qualifications and managing the IRSE Railway Signalling assessments.

She and Paul have combined their knowledge and experience to deliver technical signalling training.

They have converted an old bus and a show trailer into mobile classrooms, complete with signalling equipment, which allows them to deliver training in cities as well as remote railway depots.

The company has worked with CEMET at South Wales University to develop virtual reality training for signal engineers. Learners witness a train crash on a virtual live railway if they do not follow the correct procedures when completing tests.

The company’s investment and creativity has seen income from technical training increase twelvefold. Working with Educationwise, it delivers Apprenticeships in Railway Signalling, incorporating traditional railway courses, to save time and money for clients.

The directors focus on the training and personal development of its seven staff, four of whom were recruited through the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Breconshire Group, which the company supports.

After receiving the award, Pam said: “Winning this award means such a lot to us. Many of our staff are local, young people and it’s the whole team that make the business what it is by the amount of hard work that they put in.

“We love where we live and that has made us think outside the box to deliver our training services which has proved to be a masterstroke. We have achieved more than we could ever have hoped for.”

Powys Business Awards judges said they were impressed by the open relationship between directors and employees on financial matters. “The future and growth of this business is all about the staff empowerment,” they added. “Staff are empowered to introduce new innovation to separate their business from their competitors.”