Our Story
We’re proud of our journey to date, and how our Group has evolved since our first scope of work in 1983. It’s a story of innovation, that’s allowed us to grow alongside our clients.
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1983 -
1985
NRL’s Recruitment business is established following a request from a client to mobilise a team on the Fulmar Alpha rig construction project
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1990
Recruitment expertise is extended to the North East to meet demand for services
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1991
NRL opens its first Recruitment branch in Scotland, and the NRL Group is formed
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1993
NRL Group turnover exceeds £10 million
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1997
Further business growth with North West nuclear and power generation clients sees NRL open a new branch in Wigan
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1999
NRL secures a contract with British Nuclear Fuels Ltd (BNFL) to deliver nuclear expertise
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2001
Identifying an opportunity to support clients with contracting and maintenance services, NRL launches their Rail business
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2006
NRL’s Recruitment expertise is recognised with their first entry into the prestigious Recruiter Hot 100 listing
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2008
NRL becomes one of the first recruitment companies to gain ECIA membership, as a major provider of NAECI compliant labour services
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2011
The company proves its commitment to providing exceptional recruitment services by being welcomed as a member of the Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo)
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2013
NRL acquires niche Oil & Gas recruitment specialist Petrolic, and the International division is formalised
NRL Group turnover exceeds £100 million
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2015
NRL’s Group growth is recognised as they enter The Sunday Times Top Track 250 for the first time
The Recruitment business is awarded Recruitment Company of the Year (>£50m) at the APSCo Awards for Excellence
The Rail division opens a new custom built training facility in Barnsley
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2016
Recognising that something was missing from the managed service workforce models, the Group launches the Linx business – to drive performance and value from contingent labour supply chains
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2018
NRL acquires Heysham based energy and power recruitment business Intec (UK), with specialist strategic purchasing expertise
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2019
The NRL Group awarded Best Outsourced Contractor Organisation for their Linx business and Best Contractor Recruitment Agency – Engineering for their Recruitment business at The Contracting Awards
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2020
NRL’s NDT business launches new Ultrasonic qualification and inspection services in Bristol
NRL’s Recruitment business launches in the Republic of Ireland
The Rail division is awarded a prestigious Network Rail Principal Contractor Licence
NRL Group enter the The Sunday Times PwC Top Track 250 report again as a leading mid-market private company
Almost a decade on from first entering the list, the NRL Group continue to be recognised as a Top500 company by North West Business Insider
Strategic growth sees NRL’s Recruitment expertise launch in Teesside
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2021
The NRL Group achieves carbon neutral status across all businesses with One Carbon World
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2022
The NRL Group acquires Newcastle based CD Group, including Contract Design (Northern) and translation and interpreting experts Eldon (now NRL Language Solutions)
The organisation voluntarily becomes a Living Wage Employer to ensure a fair and real living wage for every colleague
The NRL Group sign the Armed Forces Covenant and achieve an Employer Recognition Scheme bronze award
The NRL Group sign the Social Mobility Pledge to reinforce their support for young adults from disadvantaged backgrounds
Keen to support financial, emotional and physical wellbeing in construction, the NRL Group become a company supporter of the Lighthouse construction industry charity
Colleagues complete training to secure the company wide Inclusive+ Recruiter certification from the Association of Professional Staffing Companies
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2023
The NRL Group celebrate 40 years in businesses. With 146 colleagues situated in three countries, our engineering expertise now spans NDT, Recruitment, Workforce Solutions, Rail, Languages and Design services.
Recognised as a top 20 global engineering staffing firm by Staffing Industry Analysts
The NRL Group invests in Mental Health First Aider training to extend welfare support for colleagues
Translation and Interpreting business Eldon rebrands to NRL Language Solutions
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2024
NRL Group turnover exceeds £200m
The NRL Group secure the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme Silver Award
NRL registers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
NRL certified™ as Great Place To Work®
Disability Confident Committed status achieved
1983
NRL is founded by Andrew Redmayne, providing specialist Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) radiography services at Sellafield
1985
NRL’s Recruitment business is established following a request from a client to mobilise a team on the Fulmar Alpha rig construction project
1990
Recruitment expertise is extended to the North East to meet demand for services
1991
NRL opens its first Recruitment branch in Scotland, and the NRL Group is formed
1993
NRL Group turnover exceeds £10 million
1997
Further business growth with North West nuclear and power generation clients sees NRL open a new branch in Wigan
1999
NRL secures a contract with British Nuclear Fuels Ltd (BNFL) to deliver nuclear expertise
2001
Identifying an opportunity to support clients with contracting and maintenance services, NRL launches their Rail business
2006
NRL’s Recruitment expertise is recognised with their first entry into the prestigious Recruiter Hot 100 listing
2008
NRL becomes one of the first recruitment companies to gain ECIA membership, as a major provider of NAECI compliant labour services
2011
The company proves its commitment to providing exceptional recruitment services by being welcomed as a member of the Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo)
2013
NRL acquires niche Oil & Gas recruitment specialist Petrolic, and the International division is formalised
2013
NRL Group turnover exceeds £100 million
2015
NRL’s Group growth is recognised as they enter The Sunday Times Top Track 250 for the first time
2015
The Recruitment business is awarded Recruitment Company of the Year (>£50m) at the APSCo Awards for Excellence
2015
The Rail division opens a new custom built training facility in Barnsley
2016
Recognising that something was missing from the managed service workforce models, the Group launches the Linx business – to drive performance and value from contingent labour supply chains
2018
NRL acquires Heysham based energy and power recruitment business Intec (UK), with specialist strategic purchasing expertise
2019
The NRL Group awarded Best Outsourced Contractor Organisation for their Linx business and Best Contractor Recruitment Agency – Engineering for their Recruitment business at The Contracting Awards
2020
NRL’s NDT business launches new Ultrasonic qualification and inspection services in Bristol
2020
NRL’s Recruitment business launches in the Republic of Ireland
2020
The Rail division is awarded a prestigious Network Rail Principal Contractor Licence
2020
NRL Group enter the The Sunday Times PwC Top Track 250 report again as a leading mid-market private company
2020
Almost a decade on from first entering the list, the NRL Group continue to be recognised as a Top500 company by North West Business Insider
2020
Strategic growth sees NRL’s Recruitment expertise launch in Teesside
2021
The NRL Group achieves carbon neutral status across all businesses with One Carbon World
2022
The NRL Group acquires Newcastle based CD Group, including Contract Design (Northern) and translation and interpreting experts Eldon (now NRL Language Solutions)
2022
The organisation voluntarily becomes a Living Wage Employer to ensure a fair and real living wage for every colleague
2022
The NRL Group sign the Armed Forces Covenant and achieve an Employer Recognition Scheme bronze award
2022
The NRL Group sign the Social Mobility Pledge to reinforce their support for young adults from disadvantaged backgrounds
2022
Keen to support financial, emotional and physical wellbeing in construction, the NRL Group become a company supporter of the Lighthouse construction industry charity
2022
Colleagues complete training to secure the company wide Inclusive+ Recruiter certification from the Association of Professional Staffing Companies
2023
The NRL Group celebrate 40 years in businesses. With 146 colleagues situated in three countries, our engineering expertise now spans NDT, Recruitment, Workforce Solutions, Rail, Languages and Design services.
2023
Recognised as a top 20 global engineering staffing firm by Staffing Industry Analysts
2023
The NRL Group invests in Mental Health First Aider training to extend welfare support for colleagues
2023
Translation and Interpreting business Eldon rebrands to NRL Language Solutions
2024
NRL Group turnover exceeds £200m
2024
The NRL Group secure the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme Silver Award
2024
NRL registers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
2024
NRL certified™ as Great Place To Work®
2024
Disability Confident Committed status achieved
2025
NRL Group earned a position on the 2025 UK's Best Workplaces™ List, as well as being recognised as one of the UK’s Best Workplaces for Development™, Best Workplaces for Wellbeing™ and Best Workplaces for Women™.
2025
NRL is awarded the prestigious Recruitment Company of the Year (£50-250m) by the Association of Professional Staffing Companies UK.