When you ask our clients, what makes SLC Rail different, you’ll find that it all comes back to our people. We attract exceptional people who are passionate about rail and have experience from all parts of the industry. We are proud to be trusted as true partners throughout the project lifecycle.
Who we are
Experienced rail professionals; trusted partners.
SLC Rail is a medium-sized, independent rail consultancy of 10 years’ standing, founded by its Managing Director and operated by a team of rail professionals with a wealth of experience and expertise across a wide variety of environments and disciplines.
We have a permanent staff of strategy developers, project managers, planners and engineers. We can also call upon a large portfolio of associates with an impressive range of specialist skills. Our dedicated property division specialises in negotiating complex land deals and commercial contracts, consents and permissions.
We believe in nurturing talent and investing in individuals, providing formal training and encouraging people to acquire new skills and follow their ambitions.
Our people enjoy being active in their communities and we are keen to support staff in volunteering, fund-raising and awareness building for local, national and international causes.
Ian Walters
Managing Director
Founder and co-owner of SLC Rail, Ian remains hands-on, supporting clients with his expertise in innovative structuring and funding of third-party rail infrastructure projects.
Ian Walters
Managing DirectorIan is the founder and co-owner, and Managing Director, of SLC Rail and very much a hands-on member of the team, closely involved with clients and their schemes. A qualified accountant and finance director by background, he has considerable experience of structuring innovative third-party-delivered railway projects from both within the industry and alongside it. By challenging standard funding models, developing bespoke commercial structures and giving investors reassurance about risk, Ian has been instrumental in delivering more than 20 new railway stations and infrastructure schemes starting with Warwick Parkway, the first new station to be built since privatisation.
Ian successfully gains the support of senior stakeholders, such as government officials, Council members and rail industry executives for the case for a scheme. He has led as project sponsor through development and delivery, including funding applications, and developed highly effective value enhancement of completed assets, strengthening the case for investment.
He has worked in the UK railway industry for over 25 years and has a comprehensive understanding of the complex web of processes and issues to be navigated in order to get a scheme underway.
Sam Uren
Director
A Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Sam brings over 20 years’ experience of leading multidisciplinary rail engineering projects, from design through to delivery.
Sam Uren
DirectorSam is an accomplished Chartered Civil Engineer and Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers. She has over 20 years’ experience leading multidisciplinary engineering projects.
She specialises in new stations and railway infrastructure and has a wealth of experience in design and project management as well as strategic rail development roles.
She is experienced in managing all stages of design and delivery and understands how to construct schemes in the complex railway environment. She also has an excellent understanding of the implications of development for the wider environment, anticipating and managing potential frustrations for schemes.
Sam is a Director and shareholder at SLC Rail, leading the engineering team.
Ian Baxter
Director
With extensive knowledge of rail policy, operations and markets, Ian helps clients develop incisive strategies and schemes that win the support of rail industry stakeholders.
Ian Baxter
DirectorIan brings his experience in a range of senior commercial and operational roles to the SLC Rail Board as Strategy Director. As a director at Chiltern Railways, he led transformative investment in the TOC’s passenger services and supporting infrastructure, the first TOC to undertake this itself. As a senior sponsor with Network Rail, he developed and delivered multiple third-party funded new infrastructure schemes.
Ian leads the evolution of clients’ rail strategies, supporting regional authorities in making compelling cases for investment in rail infrastructure and services that help deliver economic growth. His comprehensive knowledge of high-level industry strategy, railway operations and markets for rail travel helps our clients to understand the commercial, financial and political implications of their proposed schemes and to gain the support of rail industry stakeholders in the key stages of its development, critical to successful outcomes.
He has a strong reputation within the industry and with local authority partners for providing trusted advice and is an excellent ambassador for high profile projects under intense political and media scrutiny.
Helen Smith
Finance Director
A qualified accountant with 25 years’ experience, Helen ensures business processes, reporting and risk frameworks give clients and stakeholders tight control over project budgets.
Helen Smith
Finance DirectorHelen is a qualified accountant with over 25 years’ experience in the finance sector in the United Kingdom and overseas in roles as an auditor, project accountant, finance manager and finance director. She prepares management accounts, setting up reporting structures for programmes and overseeing external audits. She reviews existing business processes and standards, developing a risk framework and implementing new disciplines to address gaps, ensuring tight control over clients’ budgets.
She works closely with project teams to understand the client’s specific financial reporting requirements and develop bespoke structures in order to satisfy their stakeholders’ concerns.
Paul Fountaine
Director
Paul is a Fellow of the Institute of Engineering and Technology and has over 25 years’ experience of complex engineering project and programme delivery in a wide variety of environments within and outside rail.
Paul Fountaine
DirectorPaul is a Fellow of the Institute of Engineering and Technology and a member of the Association of Project Management. He is a highly effective major projects and programme director with over 25 years’ experience of complex engineering project and programme delivery in a wide variety of environments within and outside rail. He joined SLC as a Board Director in October 2018.
He has a wealth of experience leading large teams through uncertainty and organisational change, often in very challenging circumstances. At Network Rail he was a route delivery director and programme director in the Infrastructure Projects Engineering Directorate, equipping him with deep insight into Network Rail’s way of working. He has led field engineering projects world-wide in the British Army’s Royal Engineers and brings the benefit of all this experience to support the achievement of SLC’s clients’ schemes.
Nathan Campsall
Director
A Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Nathan has led large infrastructure programmes, providing strategic direction and effective communication, from feasibility to entry into service.
Nathan Campsall
DirectorNathan is a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers and sits on the SLC Rail Board as Delivery Director. He has led large infrastructure programmes through from feasibility to entry into service and handover, always with a strong focus on managing client and supplier stakeholders. He provides consistency of strategic direction and successfully communicates this within the team and with wider stakeholders, critical to successful project delivery.
Nathan takes a broad view of his accountabilities, encompassing positive commercial outcomes, procurement strategy and financial reporting, as well as embedding a strong safety culture in his teams.