The Monthly - May 2026

An Intro from Richard Smith, CEO

This year is really flying by, it's already been quite the journey.

I thought I'd start with a personal note. The last few years have been both challenging and rewarding in equal measure, and I've put a real focus on personal development and mental health. Three things have made the biggest difference. First, I stopped drinking, I'm now over two years without touching a drop. Combine that with genuinely healthy eating and at least an hour of exercise a day, and I'm fitter than I've been in years. Making significant changes can be frightening, but unless you give them a go, you'll never know what's on the other side.

That segues nicely into life at CRS, where we've made significant changes over the past year: establishing a presence in new sectors, enhancing our capabilities and offering, and building a reputable governance structure to catapult the business forward.

None of this would be possible without the fantastic team we have in place, led by our Managing Director, John Cheeseman. We recently ran a CliftonStrengths exercise across the leadership team, and it was no surprise that the results showed both the depth of capability and the strong alignment within the group.

This month we also welcomed a new face on the operations side: Stephen Alade has joined as a Talent Associate, helping us continue to exceed client requirements across the infrastructure sectors we serve. Please join me in welcoming Stephen to CRS and do give him a call with any requirements you have, or if you're looking for a change, as he's been challenged with a number of roles to fill for our clients.

Finally, I wouldn't be British if I didn't mention the recent hot weather, it's been glorious. But spare a thought for the team members working relentlessly out on site through these conditions. It's not easy, so let's keep supporting our site-based colleagues: stay hydrated, use sunscreen, and look out for one another. We're only just entering the summer months, so please stay safe.

Exact Group Limited Charity Golf Day

On Thursday 7th May, our CRS team had a great day attending the Exact Group Limited charity golf day at Chart Hills Golf Club, aimed at raising money for the Shooting Star Children’s Hospices. Shooting Star cares for babies, children and young people with life-limiting conditions, and their families, across south-west London, north-west London and Surrey.

What a truly inspiring and upbeat day it was, and one that didn’t disappoint. Culminating in an exciting playoff final on the smaller loop course, there were plenty of laughs, some decent golf (and some not so decent…),an awesome DJ on the day, top-class hospitality, and genuinely brilliant people to spend the day with. The food alone was worth turning up for. 

The best part though, it was all for a fantastic cause in raising around £30k for such a fantastic 

organisation.

A massive thanks to the team at Exact for putting on such a cracking event. You can see the effort that goes into it, and it shows. This is an annual event, so the CRS team are already looking forward to the next one.

A big thanks also to Tom Kirkpatrick from our vehicle partners at Millhouse Leasing for inviting us to this truly fun day!  

BITA Lunch

On Thursday 28th May, Rowena and Sarah attended the BITA International Women’s Day lunch at The Ivy, West End.

Treated to an impeccable 3 course meal, including the famous Ivy shepherds pie (which we’ve been told was absolutely delicious) the girls spoke to many inspirational women, working across multiple sectors. One such conversation was with Laura Riches, who started a wine company during COVID called Laylo. Laylo wines are a growing business, where their selection of wines are all supplied in boxes or cans, which reduces the environmental impact by up to 90%.

A great day spent away from the office, meeting new people, whilst hearing about the tremendously positive & ongoing impact women are having in business across the board!  

Introduction to Stephen Alade

The CRS Resource team just got stronger!

Please join us in welcoming Stephen Alade to the team as a Talent Associate.

Stephen has a solid foundation in recruitment & has been supplying a multitude of resources into the rail, construction & water industries for some time, meaning he’s already fluent in the world in which we operate. He understands typical client demands, along with the pace, the compliance, the relationships we hold, and the importance of getting the right person to site on time. Stephen’s experience also aligns with our business strategy in developing our services into new sectors.

If you’re working with us on any of our projects, you may well be hearing from him soon. 

Welcome to the team, Stephen!

Mental Health Awareness Week

On the 11th -17th May, it was Mental Health Awareness Week.

This Mental Health Awareness Week, we took time to highlight the importance of wellbeing across our workforce, recognising the unique pressures that can come with working in rail & construction. Long hours, tough environments, and time away from home can take their toll - not just physically, but mentally too.

This year’s theme is ACTION - a powerful reminder that even small steps can make a huge difference.

At CRS, we’re proud to support a culture where conversations around mental health are encouraged and everyone feels supported. Our mental health mascot, Mallard is here to remind us all to take a moment, check in with ourselves and with each other, and prioritise what really matters. 

World Mental Health Awareness Week invites us to break the silence, to replace the shame with compassion, and the judgement with understanding. A reminder that it’s okay to talk about your mental health this week, next week and every week after that.

If you’re struggling, you’re not alone - and support is available:

Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity: 0345 605 1956

Samaritans: 116 123 (free and 24/7)

We marked the end of the week with a bit of friendly competition and a lot of fun - a table tennis tournament for all of our internal staff. It was great to see everyone step away from their desks, get involved, and enjoy some light-hearted competition. Moments like these are a reminder of how important it is to take time out, connect with colleagues, and prioritise our wellbeing at work.

Worker of the Month

This month we celebrate John Afeeva as our worker of the month.

Having worked for CRS for quite some time now, John has recently joined our rail project at Sizewell C. During his short time in supporting our client on this project, we have received consistently positive feedback from Supervisors on site, which is a great reflection of John’s attitude, work ethic and professionalism.

As a result of his strong performance, John has transitioned into a more senior role on site, where he is now supporting wider operations and assisting with the coordination of works. This is a testament to the impact he has made in a short space of time, and we’re really pleased to see his progression 

We look forward to seeing John continue to develop and contribute to te success of the project. A big well done John & thanks for your continued hard work!