ASTE Rail Ltd.

Who are we?

ASTE Rail are an organisation of professionally qualified personnel, providing Signalling and Telecommunications support and services to Network Rail’s key infrastructure contractors. We provide essential services to these key contractors by the use of experienced, qualified and highly motivated personnel. Although we are not the sole supplier of such services, we have worked hard to build a reputation that will make us a ‘first choice’ supplier in the eyes of our clients. Through the consistent delivery of safe, high quality products we have secured repeat business from existing clients and new business through personal recommendation from those clients.

Who are our stakeholders?

Network Rail’s key contractors

These are our primary clients and, as such, we work closely with them to ensure that our products continue to be suited to their needs and competitive in the current market.

Network Rail (as the end client)

Network Rail is the end client of our services (via its key contractors). Network Rail has significant responsibilities for ensuring that work within the rail industry is delivered in a very structured manner, with the aim of achieving consistency in quality of work and ensuring compliance with all current and valid legislation and regulations. To achieve their aim, Network Rail produce mandatory standards that must be complied with by all providers to the industry and guidance documents to assist in achieving compliance.

Our employees

Our employees are the ambassadors of our organisation and are critical to our success. They are in ‘front end’ communication with our primary clients and Network Rail on a regular basis and, in the eyes of our clients, their attitudes and performance directly reflect the values, attitudes and performance of our organisation, as a whole.

Our suppliers

Like our employees, our suppliers are critical to our success. Our aim of providing a first class product to our clients is merely wishful thinking if the source of our materials and tools is poor. We take great care to ensure that our suppliers are as committed and competitive as we are.

What is our organisations culture?

Our organisations culture is one of commitment to:

Delivering safe, high quality, consistent products that are constantly developing and improving to meet our clients’ needs

Operating an internal environment of openness, honesty and respect, recognising that our personnel are our greatest asset and cultivating a safe, friendly and efficient work environment, leading to long term retention of personnel and their essential skills

Continual development of our personnel, ensuring that we can deliver the latest innovations and skills and, consequently, increased value for money and safety to our clients

Operating in an ethical manner, with regard to:

• Our financial dealings
• The safety and quality of life of our personnel
• Non discrimination on the basis of age, race, sex or physical abilities
• The effects of our activities on the environment

What will we be doing during 2007?

Recent, tentative trials were conducted to assess the value of diversifying and expanding our portfolio of services to our clients. Although the trials were successful and we obtained several new Product Groups for provision of these additional services, it was established that merely possessing the capability to provide these additional services did not mean that we could do so in a manner that would result in increased value for money for our clients.

The nature of the additional services would mean the use of a more transient workforce (a move that would be contrary to our philosophy of continual development and long term retention of personnel), at a time when our clients are seeking to control and decrease risks associated with lack of competence or managerial control.

Our organisation is therefore taking the opportunity to consolidate, whilst looking for new opportunities to expand our market share in our chosen specialist area.

What is our strategy?

Our strategy is simple, but very effective. We will continue to develop our personnel, processes and systems, in line with our client’s requirements to control and decrease risks.

We will invest in:

• New systems Emerging technologies Development of personnel Greater management focus on key areas
• We will do so safely and profitably and with due regard to the effects of our operations on the public, the environment, species and habitats.

What are the key indicators of our success?

ASTE Rail Ltd. have selected key indicators. These indicators are critical measurements of those items that are directly related to the success or failure of the company. Regular measurement against the indicators and monitoring of the results will provide vital information that will ultimately influence our strategy and future objectives.

ASTE Rail Ltd. have in place the following key indicators: Staff Satisfaction Company Profit Company Turnover Debt Management Customer Enquiries Received Enquiries Received via Recommendation Customer Complaints Customer Satisfaction System/ Safety Performance