The infrastructure consultancy based in the West Midlands has experience delivering a range of regional infrastructure projects, including work on the West Midlands Rail Programme.

Roisin Mooney, Community Campaigns Manager at Birmingham Hospice, who leads the Treecycling campaign, said “This year, our incredible team including volunteers from SLC have collected nearly 7000 trees – and so far, we’ve raised over £126,000 for Birmingham Hospice! Thank you so much to SLC for being such a crucial part of our campaign and helping us make every moment matter. We couldn’t do this without you.”

Colleagues from across SLC volunteered over the weekend, including Ian Walters, Susan Fisher, Sam Uren, Alex Rowley and Milly Walters, helping to collect trees from local neighbourhoods and transport them to recycling points.

Alex Rowley, first time participant said: “I wanted to get involved in treecycling because it looked like fun way to help a great cause. The event was well organised, and it was a really rewarding experience, I’ll definitely be signing up again next year!”

Treecycling plays an important role in supporting Birmingham Hospice, helping to fund specialist palliative and end of life care for people living with a terminal diagnosis, as well as vital support for their families. The hospice provides compassionate care across Birmingham and Sandwell, including pain and symptom management, emotional and psychological support, and bereavement services, ensuring people are supported with dignity, comfort and respect at some of the most difficult times of their lives.

SLC is proud to support Treecycling each year as part of its ongoing commitment to community involvement and supporting local charities.

Today (26 November) is World Sustainable Transport Day, set up by the United Nations to recognise the essential role of safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems in driving economic growth, promoting social welfare and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Rail plays a vital role in this journey. We’re passionate about helping our clients make it happen and are proud to turn sustainable transport aspirations into reality, delivering infrastructure that connects people, unlocks economic growth, and meets housing demand.

• Since opening in December 2024, the Northumberland Line has already carried over 500,000 journeys, supporting economic regeneration across the region.
•  Opened just over five years ago, Worcestershire Parkway is now carbon neutral, and thanks to its strategic location, has been identified by the New Towns Taskforce as a potential site for a new town.

If you’re looking at transport projects that could support a more sustainable future, we’d love to hear from you and explore how we can help turn your vision into reality.

He spoke about private investment, new towns, the Northumberland Line and more.  You can watch the full debate below.

Other panellists included Neil Blagburn, AECOM’s programme delivery director on the Northumberland Line and Rachelle Forsyth-Ward, assistant director of transport policy, partnerships and contracts at The North East Combined Authority.

The event brought together participants from across the rail industry, all united by a shared commitment to raising awareness and vital funds for this important charity.

Runners started at Birmingham New Street and ran along the canal to University Station, raising awareness of men’s health and also celebrating the collaboration among organisations that support transport and infrastructure projects.

A big thank you to everyone who donated and joined in this event.

SLC – an infrastructure development and delivery specialist – has strengthened its commitment to the Armed Forces community by signing the Armed Forces Covenant.

The Covenant, signed at a Services-themed pre-match Lunch hosted by Kenilworth Rugby Football Club on Remembrance weekend, along with other businesses, formalises SLC’s pledge to ensure that serving personnel, service leavers, reservists, veterans and their families are treated with fairness, respect and opportunity in both the workplace and wider society.

Paul Fountaine, Director at SLC, said: “As a business that helps clients make infrastructure projects happen, including within the defence sector, we greatly value the expertise, dedication and leadership that members of the Armed Forces community bring to our team and our projects.”

Although an SME, many of SLC’s employees have served in the Armed Forces or continue to serve as reservists, so this is the next step for this forces-friendly employer.

Paul added: “As a veteran myself, I know how important it is for service leavers to find organisations that understand and appreciate the unique skills we bring. We are proud to offer a workplace where everyone can thrive and signing the Armed Forces Covenant further demonstrates that commitment.”

By signing the Covenant, SLC has also pledged to support its reservist employees by accommodating their training and mobilisation commitments. The reserve forces play a vital role in the UK’s defence capability, with around 30,000 trained reservists across the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force representing nearly 15% of the nation’s military strength. This is why SLC provides dedicated leave for reservist training and exercises to help sustain that capability.

Putting this commitment to use is John Donaghy, SLC’s Human Centred Design Lead, who recently took part in a two-week NATO exercise in the United States as a reserve Sapper with 507 Specialist Team Royal Engineers. 507 STRE is a nationally recruited reserve unit that provides railway infrastructure expertise to the Army, delivering real projects that contribute to national defence. The annual training exercise allowed John the opportunity to return to fundamental engineering principles and gain hands-on delivery experience.

John said: “It is fantastic to see SLC signing the Covenant and showing support for the Armed Forces. Across the Royal Engineers, we work on infrastructure projects from rail, ports and airports to water, civils and structural works. The skills and leadership experience I have gained through the reserve service directly strengthen my ability to deliver complex infrastructure projects for our clients.”

For more information about SLC, visit www.slcrail.com

Worcestershire Parkway, a project we supported Worcestershire County Council to conceive, develop, finance and deliver, has been identified as a potential location for a new town.

“Worcestershire Parkway presents an opportunity for the government to capitalise on existing transport infrastructure and its strategic location. This development has the potential to create a thriving new community and unlock regional economic growth.” (New Towns Taskforce – September 2025)

Transport infrastructure is key to unlocking economic growth and meeting housing demand. We’re passionate about supporting our clients to make this happen.

The scenic line links major towns and smaller stations across South and West Yorkshire and provides vital access to jobs, education and leisure.

Planned enhancements explored in the Outline Business Case include increasing train speeds, upgrading rail infrastructure, and doubling sections of track to enable two trains per hour in both directions on the northern section of the line. The work will also explore opportunities to modernise stations, improving passenger experience and accessibility.

The proposed improvements aim to connect communities better, complementing the wider upgrades also being delivered by the Transpennine Route Upgrade to improve journeys between Huddersfield, Manchester and York.

Sam Uren, Director of SLC, said: “Connectivity is a key driver for growth, and the Penistone Line has the potential to serve its region better through a series of targeted improvements.

“We’re looking forward to working with Kirklees Council and partners to develop the case for how these initiatives can be realised for the people of Yorkshire.”

Councillor Moses Crook, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Transport and Housing said:

“We are thrilled that Kirklees Council has been awarded this vital funding to improve our rail network – and now the green light to begin making progress towards delivery. This is more than just investment in our railways – it’s an investment in our communities and will make a real difference to residents living along the Penistone Line route and across Kirklees.

“The improvements will bring more reliable trains with better journey times between Huddersfield and Sheffield and will help to boost our local economy, support growth in Kirklees and improve connectively across the north.

“The Penistone Line is a crucial transport link, and it’s all part of our plans to make the Kirklees economy stronger, more regionally integrated and greener for future generations. These upgrades will open greater opportunities in education, employment, skills and health and wellbeing for residents across Kirklees.”

The Hub provides a safe, inclusive environment for young people aged 9–25 to grow, express themselves and build connections. He was delighted to help mark this new chapter for the Hub.

Sam said: “Volunteering at the Hub has been a fantastic way to stay connected with young people. It encourages me to think differently, challenge my views and give something back to the community. It’s especially meaningful, as this is the same community where we built a station nearly 10 years ago!”

Engaging in initiatives like this is at the heart of SLC Life, demonstrating our ongoing commitment to creating social value and supporting the communities we serve.

Temporary works, like permanent works, must be reviewed for constructability, design coordination and safe implementation.  They are often also a key element of rail interface projects, where temporary works are required to enable construction close to the railway.

With our in-depth understanding of the rail environment, we regularly support developers and local authorities with projects involving rail interface.
Many thanks to Davey and Van Heerden Ltd for delivering this training.

A rail development and delivery specialist, SLC has delivered more than 120 rail projects over the past 15 years.

The company already applies RSSB’s comprehensive framework of standards to ensure safety, interoperability and efficiency, and subscribes to RSSB’s Carbon Management Tool to help clients assess and reduce carbon emissions from the earliest stages of project development. Becoming a member now means the company takes its relationship to the next level and will now access many other membership benefits of the RSSB.

Sam Uren, Director from SLC said: “As an SME, joining the RSSB is an exciting move and shows our commitment to safety and our passion for collaborating with the wider industry. We look forward to accessing and contributing to the latest industry research and knowledge and exploring other ways RSSB can support our employees with training and wellbeing.”

Matt Clements, Head of Engagement at RSSB said: “By joining our membership network, SLC is gaining access to industry-leading research and best practice. They’re also joining a collaborative network dedicated to driving safety, performance and sustainability improvements in rail transport.”