QTS Group MD recognised for remarkable service in the railway

December 2022

Alan McLeish, managing director of QTS Group was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the recent RailStaff Awards at the NEC in Birmingham.

Mr McLeish, who this year celebrated 30 years of QTS, was presented with the award at a ceremony hosted by comedian Ed Byrne.

On receiving the award, Mr McLeish said:

“It’s wonderful to be given this accolade, especially having just marked 30 years of QTS. I’ve had a long and eventful career in the railway and to be given a lifetime achievement award is just in equal parts incredible and humbling.

“I continue to look forward to what both QTS and I can continue achieve in the years to come. Even though we’ve hit such a momentous milestone, there is still a lot we want to do.

“Thank you, Rail Media, for this magnificent award and a memorable evening.”

The story of Alan McLeish and how QTS was born, won the judges over with the grit and determination it showcases. Starting the business with a £300 loan from his mother in 1992, with a wife and three young children at home, he gave up his steady, full-time employment to pursue a dream.

Since then, Mr McLeish has grown QTS, which now employs over 600 people across the UK. A visionary when it comes to road rail machinery, he has been the mind behind many innovative machines over the last 30 years. He also the driving force behind the philanthropy displayed by QTS in local communities and charities, ensuring that the success of the business benefits those who need it most.

The company was also highly commended on the night for its Future of Rail event, which saw rail industry leaders and local schools brought together to celebrate achievements and discuss the future of the industry.

The RailStaff Awards are run by Rail Media, the publisher of RailStaff magazine, and recognise individuals and groups within the rail industry who have gone above and beyond in their roles.