The new hires will play a pivotal role in protecting wildlife habitats, improving biodiversity on projects, and streamlining compliance with environmental legislation.

Andrew Campuzano has been appointed as lead ecologist. Based in the North-West and Central region, Andrew brings a wealth of railway ecology experience and is one of only a handful of professionals in England to hold a CL35 badger licence. This specialist qualification allows QTS to secure ecological permissions and commence works more rapidly than when relying on external consultants.

Helen Simmons will take up the role of senior ecologist, leading ecological work across Scotland. Helen brings senior-level experience in ecology and conservation, and will play a key role in supporting project teams and delivering biodiversity enhancements across the region’s infrastructure works.

Kate Hunt joins the business as ecologist and will support projects across the Wales and South Western region. With a strong background in field ecology and ecological assessments, Kate’s role is focused on conducting habitat and species surveys to ensure compliance with environmental legislation and protect biodiversity along the rail network.

Previously, QTS outsourced all ecological assessments to external consultancies. However, increasing delays due to a limited pool of railway-trained ecologists prompted the company to invest in a permanent, in-house team. This proactive approach ensures better quality control and greater responsiveness.

The ecologists are already engaged in critical projects, including emergency work on badger-affected railway lines, work enabled by QTS’s capacity to secure licences in a fraction of the time typically required by external providers.

The team’s formation also supports Network Rail’s long-term ambition to achieve a 4% biodiversity net gain across its estate. With in-house specialists, QTS can now guide environmental enhancements from survey through to implementation, including initiatives like wildflower planting, habitat pile creation and installation of bumblebee houses.

Cameron Couston, environmental and sustainability manager at QTS Group, said: “Creating an internal ecology team allows us to work smarter and faster. It means we can provide a more responsive service, ensure legal compliance, and contribute meaningfully to biodiversity net gain across the rail network.

“This team brings a wealth of knowledge and hands-on expertise that’s already proving invaluable.”

QTS anticipates further growth of the ecology team in the coming months, reflecting a wider investment in sustainability initiatives. These include operational carbon reduction, a shift towards electric vehicles and smarter fleet management, all aligned with the company’s Science-Based Targets commitment.