WSR plc - FIVE new DIRECTORS wanted

[Amlag]

The WSR Plc chairman is advertising for 5 new Directors.

Have there been mass resignations, of even some short lived appointees, and why ?

 

[trebor79]

"Closing date for applications is (to be inserted)"
Hardly going to attract the best talent is it?

 

[ExRes]

Who are the WSR?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Who are the WSR?

Possibly refers to the West Somerset Railway? No such company registered at Companies House as 'WSR plc'.

 

[Amlag]

Possibly refers to the West Somerset Railway? No such company registered at Companies House as 'WSR plc'.

YES WSR = West Somerset Railway PLC

the closing date for any applications now advised as 27 Aug 2023.

 

[WAB]

The positions are directors for human resources, development and external relations, operations, safety and compliance, and corporate funding. Given the ongoing issues at the WSR, they all sound like a bit of a poisoned chalice to me...

 

[islandmonkey]

I had no idea that the West Somerset Railway was a public company. Any other heritage lines like this?

 

[simonw]

I had no idea that the West Somerset Railway was a public company. Any other heritage lines like this?

There are various operating models for heritage railways, but Ltd companies or plcs are often used for the operating company, even if they are controlled through a charity.

Note plc doesn't mean listed, it just means shares can be sold to the public. A quick Google shows numerous examples of North norfolk, Severn valley bluebell great central etc.

 

[pdeaves]

I had no idea that the West Somerset Railway was a public company. Any other heritage lines like this?

Most (all?) major heritage lines have a 'plc', charity trust, supporter's arm and possibly various other sundry nominally separate organisations. It simplifies things if one part gets into any trouble, amongst other benefits of this setup.

 

[randyrippley]

The list of current Board members according the the corporate website at https://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk/corporate-information
and Companies House list

WEST SOMERSET RAILWAY PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY people - Find and update company information - GOV.UK

WEST SOMERSET RAILWAY PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY - Free company information from Companies House including registered office address, filing history, accounts, annual return, officers, charges, business activity

find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk

to my eye looks very finance-led, not engineering led

 

[D Williams]

The list of current Board members according the the corporate website at https://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk/corporate-information
and Companies House list

WEST SOMERSET RAILWAY PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY people - Find and update company information - GOV.UK

WEST SOMERSET RAILWAY PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY - Free company information from Companies House including registered office address, filing history, accounts, annual return, officers, charges, business activity

find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk

to my eye looks very finance-led, not engineering led

Unfortunately we tend to view these matters as railway enthusiasts overlooking the fact that every heritage railway is a business and the books have to balance at the year end unless the directors want to "do a Llangollen". Very strange "businesses" of course and the past accounts of the WSR make interesting reading with "profit" relying on donations, legacies and creative accounting as much as a revenue stream from railway operations. In fact most heritage railways are financial basket cases hence the reduced operations of one well known railway in the Midlands. Why anyone would be silly enough to be a "Director of Safety and Compliance" and thereby expose themselves to regular kicking by the ORR I know not. In fact, why anyone would want to be a director of the WSR in any capacity is a mystery. The corporate history of this outfit is not a happy story. But, at the least, it is still running trains.