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Railway, construction and engineering
Railway Asset Protection & Third Party Interface Managing third party projects that interface with the operational railway, from early Asset Protection engagement and design through to construction planning, assurance and site delivery. Railway Planning & Assurance Planning and assurance for access, possessions, Safe Systems of Work and Any Line Open arrangements, from early planning through to site delivery. Construction & Engineering Assurance Construction and engineering management, design coordination, CEM and CRE support, temporary works oversight and practical delivery assurance. CDM & Principal Contractor Assurance CDM governance, duty holder support and Principal Contractor management and assurance throughout project delivery, including defined Principal Contractor’s Representative appointments.
Systems, assurance and support
HSQE & Management Systems Competent health and safety support, wider HSQE consultancy, integrated management systems, ISO support, auditing and organisational assurance. Railway Industry Assurance RISQS and Network Rail Principal Contractor Licensing, including organisational readiness, management systems and assurance. Retained Professional Services Retained consultancy, professional resourcing and specialist appointments providing additional expertise, capacity and continuity to organisations, projects and programmes. All Professional Services Explore Harcon’s complete range of consultancy, management, assurance and professional resourcing services in one place.
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Railway, construction and engineering
Railway Asset Protection & Third Party InterfaceManaging third party projects that interface with the operational railway, from early Asset Protection engagement and design through to construction planning, assurance and site delivery. Railway Planning & AssurancePlanning and assurance for access, possessions, Safe Systems of Work and Any Line Open arrangements, from early planning through to site delivery. Construction & Engineering AssuranceConstruction and engineering management, design coordination, CEM and CRE support, temporary works oversight and practical delivery assurance. CDM & Principal Contractor AssuranceCDM governance, duty holder support and Principal Contractor management and assurance throughout project delivery, including defined Principal Contractor’s Representative appointments.
Systems, assurance and support
HSQE & Management SystemsCompetent health and safety support, wider HSQE consultancy, integrated management systems, ISO support, auditing and organisational assurance. Railway Industry AssuranceRISQS and Network Rail Principal Contractor Licensing, including organisational readiness, management systems and assurance. Retained Professional ServicesRetained consultancy, professional resourcing and specialist appointments providing additional expertise, capacity and continuity to organisations, projects and programmes. All Professional ServicesExplore Harcon’s complete range of consultancy, management, assurance and professional resourcing services in one place.
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RISQS · Principal Contractor Licensing · Railway Compliance

Railway Industry
Assurance

Supporting organisations to establish and maintain the systems, competence and assurance required to operate within the rail industry, including RISQS and Principal Contractor Licensing.

Discuss your assurance requirements Call 0800 3102 008
RISQS and PCL assurance expertise Practical systems & compliance support Chartered professional oversight
When railway industry assurance applies

Does this apply to your organisation?

Organisations operating, or seeking to operate, within the rail industry may need to demonstrate specific systems, competence and assurance arrangements depending on the activities they undertake and the requirements of their clients.

Harcon supports organisations establishing, developing and maintaining these arrangements across RISQS and Principal Contractor Licensing.

A client requires RISQS registration or assuranceSupporting organisations where RISQS requirements arise through tenders, frameworks, prequalification or client requirements.
You are establishing or expanding your rail capabilitySupporting contractors, consultants and specialist suppliers to establish the systems, competence and assurance required for their intended rail activities.
You are preparing for audit or maintaining complianceProviding structured readiness reviews, gap analysis, evidence assurance and ongoing support for initial, renewal and surveillance audits.
You require a Principal Contractor LicenceSupporting organisations establishing and maintaining the management systems, competence, governance and assurance arrangements required for Principal Contractor Licensing.
RISQS assurance

Establishing and maintaining RISQS compliance

RISQS provides a recognised supplier qualification and assurance framework used by buyers across the GB rail industry. It enables suppliers to demonstrate their organisational information, capabilities and assurance arrangements against the products and services they intend to provide.

The requirements that apply to an organisation depend on its activities and selected RICCL codes. These determine the applicable qualification and assurance requirements, which may include verification, audit and additional assessments.

Having documents does not demonstrate compliance

Policies, procedures and registers alone do not demonstrate that an organisation's arrangements are effective. Railway assurance requires those arrangements to be implemented, understood and supported by appropriate evidence in practice.

Harcon supports organisations to establish, develop and maintain the management systems and assurance arrangements required for their RISQS scope. This includes initial readiness and gap analysis, management system development, evidence assurance, audit preparation, corrective action and ongoing compliance support.

Scope

How we support your organisation

Our support is tailored to your organisation, existing capability and railway activities. We can provide targeted assurance against a specific requirement or support the development and maintenance of your wider rail industry capability.

  • Scope & requirements. Establishing the rail activities, services and assurance requirements applicable to your organisation.
  • Gap assessment. Reviewing existing systems, competence and evidence against applicable industry and client requirements.
  • Management systems. Developing and strengthening practical arrangements that reflect how your organisation operates.
  • Implementation. Supporting the effective implementation and integration of requirements across the business.
  • Competence & organisational capability. Establishing roles, responsibilities, competence arrangements and governance appropriate to your rail activities.
  • Evidence & readiness assurance. Reviewing records and evidence to establish readiness and identify gaps before formal assessment or audit.
  • Audit & assessment support. Supporting preparation, corrective action and close out across RISQS, PCL and other applicable assurance requirements.
  • Ongoing assurance. Maintaining systems, evidence and organisational compliance as requirements, activities and responsibilities develop.

Effective railway assurance should reflect the organisation, its activities and the risks it manages. Our focus is on establishing practical arrangements that can be implemented, evidenced and maintained in operation.

Harcon's assurance model

From requirement to assurance

Effective assurance starts with understanding the requirements that apply, establishing appropriate arrangements and demonstrating that those arrangements are implemented and working in practice.

1

Requirement

Understanding what applies to your organisation and activities.

2

Arrangements

Establishing the policies, procedures, responsibilities and controls needed to meet those requirements.

3

Implementation

Embedding those arrangements into how the organisation operates.

4

Evidence

Maintaining clear, traceable records that demonstrate the arrangements are being applied.

5

Assurance

Providing confidence that requirements are understood, implemented and operating effectively.

Principal Contractor Licensing

Establishing Principal Contractor capability

Organisations intending to undertake Principal Contractor duties on Network Rail Managed Infrastructure must demonstrate that they have the organisational capability, management systems, competence and governance necessary to discharge those duties effectively and meet Network Rail's additional requirements.

Principal Contractor Licensing brings together rail industry supplier assurance, independently certified management systems and Network Rail's own licensing and assurance requirements.

Rail industry assurance

RISQS qualification and audit

The organisation must hold the appropriate RISQS qualification and successfully demonstrate compliance against the following modules applicable to its activities and Principal Contractor responsibilities.

  • Core Operational Railway Services
  • Sentinel
  • Safe Work Planning
  • CDM (Construction Design & Management)
  • Principal Contractor Licensing
Management system assurance

Independent management system certification

Principal Contractor capability is supported by independently certified quality, environmental and occupational health and safety management systems, including:

  • ISO 9001 Quality Management
  • ISO 14001 Environmental Management
  • ISO 45001 Occupational Health & Safety Management

Harcon supports organisations through the development, application and maintenance of Principal Contractor capability, from initial gap analysis and licensing readiness through management system development, competence and resource arrangements, planning and control of work, evidence assurance and ongoing PCL compliance.

Why evidence matters

What makes evidence useful

Effective assurance requires more than documented arrangements. Organisations need to be able to demonstrate that those arrangements are implemented and operating in practice. The evidence required will depend on the organisation's activities and applicable requirements, but effective evidence should have four key qualities.

Real
Generated through normal business and project activities, not created solely for assessment.
Traceable
Dated, attributable and clearly linked to the requirement or arrangement it supports.
Consistent
Demonstrates that arrangements are applied over time, not as a one off exercise.
Proportionate
Provides sufficient evidence of effective implementation without unnecessary administration.
Why Harcon

Specialist railway assurance, integrated with your organisation

Harcon combines practical rail industry experience with management system, compliance and assurance expertise. We work alongside client teams to establish arrangements that reflect how the organisation operates, support effective implementation and provide independent assurance that requirements are being met in practice.

Practical and proportionate. Arrangements developed around your organisation, activities and applicable railway requirements.
Independent assurance. Objective review of systems, implementation and evidence to identify gaps and provide confidence in organisational readiness.
Rail industry expertise. Practical understanding of RISQS, Principal Contractor Licensing and the wider requirements associated with operating in the rail industry.
Integrated management systems. Building on existing ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 arrangements rather than creating unnecessary parallel systems.
Ongoing professional support. Supporting organisations beyond initial qualification or assessment to maintain compliance, strengthen capability and respond to changing requirements.
Passenger train on an electrified main line running through open countryside
Assurance is a continuing process
Effective assurance requires arrangements to be implemented, evidenced, reviewed and continually improved.
RISQS accreditation

Eight stages from first question to ongoing assurance

Understand the route to RISQS supplier assurance, the requirements that may apply to your organisation and what effective readiness looks like. Start at the beginning or go directly to the stage relevant to you.

Open the RISQS guide
Stage 1UnderstandWhat RISQS is, and why it matters Stage 2ScopeWhat do you want to do in rail? Stage 3RequirementsWhat requirements may apply to your organisation? Stage 4BuildWhat does your organisation need in place? Stage 5EvidenceDocumentation alone is not enough. Stage 6ReadinessHow ready is your organisation? Stage 7AuditPreparing for your RISQS audit Stage 8MaintainRISQS does not end when the audit is complete.
What our clients say

Principal Contractor Licensing and RISQS, in our clients’ words

Principal Contractor Licence
We identified a need develop our business to generate additional organic growth. This included the need for organisational development in our team, management systems and processes to attain a Network Rail Principal Contractor Licence. We approached Harcon Solutions to support our development journey.

Harcon led the assurance process from inception to completion, this included management systems development and the subsequent approvals with Network Rails principal contractor licensing team. Furthermore, Peter project managed our first Network Rail contract at Toton in October 2024. The successful delivery and on site assurance audit of this project led to us attaining a Network Rail Full Trackside Principal Contractor Licence.

Peters’ expert knowledge was demonstrable in the successful delivery of the above mentioned project and his ability to translate the processes to our well established and experienced teams was excellent. If you were embarking on a similar journey we would have no hesitation in recommending Harcon Solutions

We have retained Harcon for the remainder of the year and the likelihood is this will continue long into the future as we continue our journey to grow organically and affirm our position as a first class all encompassing support to the Rail Sector.
Mervyn HarrisManaging Director, KGJ Price (Railway Contractors) Limited
RISQS, CDM and railway assurance
For over three years, Harcon Solutions have been a key part of Eleusis Structural Engineering’s growth, helping us to develop our management systems and processes to meet RISQS and Network Rail standards. Peter, is our go to for all things CDM, safety and railway assurance, and has worked closely with us to strengthen our safety culture, infrastructure, and management systems, giving us real confidence when working in high risk environments.

Harcon’s expertise has been key in helping us win and deliver major contracts with clients like Amey PLC, Balfour Beatty Vinci, HS2, AMCOGIFFEN, and the Ardmore Group across rail, highways, and complex construction. From CDM compliance and work package planning to long term safety strategy, Harcon’s advice keeps us compliant, competitive, and future ready, including our progress towards ISO 45001, 9001 and 14001 accreditations.

In short, Harcon Solutions have given us peace of mind, resilience, and credibility to perform. They’re more than just consultants, they’re a strategic partner, helping us set the standards and lay the foundations for our continued success.
Steve LockManaging Director, Eleusis Limited
Questions

Frequently asked questions

Practical answers to common questions about RISQS and railway industry assurance.

Do I need RISQS?
Whether RISQS is required depends on the activities your organisation intends to undertake, the products and services you provide and the requirements of your clients and procurement routes.

Harcon can help establish your intended rail scope, identify the applicable assurance requirements and determine the arrangements your organisation may need to put in place.
When is a RISQS audit required?
RISQS requirements are influenced by the RICCL codes associated with your products and services. Some codes require verification, while auditable codes require the organisation to successfully complete the relevant RISQS audit before qualification against those activities. Additional audit requirements can also arise from the nature or location of the work and specific buyer requirements.
What are RICCL codes and why do they matter?
The Railway Industry Commodity Classification List (RICCL) provides the standardised classification of products, services and materials used across the rail industry. Suppliers select the codes that correspond with the activities they provide.

These codes help define the organisation's RISQS scope and can determine the level of assurance required, including verification, audit or other assessment. Selecting the appropriate codes is therefore an important part of establishing the correct assurance requirements.
We already hold ISO certification. How does this support railway assurance?
Existing ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 management systems can provide a strong foundation for railway industry assurance. However, rail specific requirements still need to be identified, integrated and demonstrated against the activities and assurance scope applicable to the organisation.

Harcon can build on existing certified systems rather than unnecessarily creating parallel management arrangements.
Can Harcon support us beyond initial audit and certification?
Yes. Harcon provides ongoing professional support to help organisations maintain their management systems, competence arrangements, evidence and railway assurance requirements as their activities and responsibilities develop.

This can include periodic assurance reviews, management system updates, corrective action support, changes in scope and ongoing readiness for audit, assessment or certification requirements.
Related services

Related professional services

Operating within the rail industry frequently requires expertise across management systems, CDM, operational planning and ongoing assurance. Explore the Harcon services that can support your wider organisational and project requirements.

ISO consultancy HSQE & Management Systems Health, safety, quality and environmental assurance with ISO aligned governance. Explore service CDM consulting CDM & Principal Contractor Assurance Effective governance, duties and proportionate assurance throughout construction delivery. Explore service Railway access planning Railway Planning & Assurance Access, possessions, Safe Systems of Work and ALO arrangements. Explore service Harcon consultants on site Retained Professional Services Ongoing access to Harcon's consultancy and assurance disciplines. Explore service
Talk to Harcon

Want to work in the UK rail industry?

Whether you are considering RISQS for the first time, preparing for audit, responding to findings or working towards Principal Contractor Licensing, speak directly with Harcon about where you are now and what you need in place.

Discuss your requirements Call 0800 3102 008
Email usenquiries@harconsolutions.co.uk
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