Transport for London says William Cook Rail is Best SME

The prestigious awards recognise the different activities and efforts of TfL’s suppliers and the contribution they make to keeping London moving. The ceremony took place at the London Transport Museum in Covent Garden.
William Cook Rail won the ‘Best SME’ category, judged against a range of criteria including displaying continuous innovation and differentiation to set itself apart from competitors, significant market growth figures, and a clear and concise plan for sustained growth.

William Cook Rail designs, manufactures and overhauls safety-critical components and systems for rolling stock builders and operators all over the world. Customers include Transport for London, Alstom, Bombardier and Siemens and products are on trains in many countries, among them the UK, France, Germany, Canada, India, Australia and the United States.

Mr William Cook, Director at William Cook Rail, said: “This award tops off a transformative year for William Cook Rail. Our apprentices have been recognised with national awards; our commitment to quality has been recognised with RISAS and IRIS industry approval; and we have just completed construction of our brand new bogie overhaul facility. All of this on top of a continuing programme of investment in our world-class UK manufacturing and maintenance facilities.
“Transport for London is one of William Cook Rail’s most important customers. We are proud to support the couplers for the current London Underground fleet.”

Simon Kilonback, Chief Finance Officer at TfL, said: “It’s important to recognise the different activities and efforts of our suppliers and our annual Supplier Awards event at the London Transport Museum provides that forum.  There was strong competition and it was challenging to choose who should win. Our congratulations go to all of the winning and shortlisted suppliers, including William Cook Rail.
“We will continue to work closely with our suppliers to implement innovative solutions, drive efficiencies and reduce costs across our supply chain.”
The company continues to invest in its £15m Leeds plant as part of a strategic investment programme to move into high-value markets. The facility specialises in the design, manufacture, overhaul and upgrade of bogies, running gear and coupler systems.
William Cook Rail’s bespoke £1m bogie overhaul facility fills a gap in the UK market, offering improved supply chain security, cost competitiveness and turnaround times for UK rolling stock owners and operators. It opens in the new year.

In the summer, the company received certification in from the Railway Industry Supplier Approval Scheme (RISAS), which ensures key suppliers can become recognised as best-in-class at delivering the most challenging and high-risk products and services for rolling stock.