This International Women’s Day, the rail industry is celebrating the inspirational women working on Britain’s railways – and encouraging more women to pursue a career in rail.
The Training Director of leading rail contractor QTS Group has invited women to join it in shaping the future of rail, saying “every voice and talent propels us forward towards innovation and excellence”.
The comments from Lorna Gibson came on International Women’s Day, a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women.
Lorna said: “Let us redefine the tracks we tread and demonstrate the different routes available. As Training Director for QTS Group, I am deeply committed to reshaping and inspiring the landscape of the rail industry. Embracing change means challenging norms, and in a traditionally male-dominated sector, we recognise the immense value that diversity brings.
“I am passionate about attracting more women to the rail industry through QTS training schemes, and my roles with Women in Rail Scotland and the Rail Industry Association, not just to bridge the gender gap, but to address the industry’s pressing skills shortage.”
Elsewhere, train operator LNER is shining a spotlight on its female employees – and discussing opportunities to break the glass ceiling.
Employees from across the business have been sharing their stories in the hope that they will inspire even more women to consider a career in rail.
Train Driver Clare Caddick, Melike Karatas, a Senior Data Scientist, Caroline Schofield who is working to make rail even more accessible, and Olivia Mouter, who leads on environmental partnerships, have seen their careers go from strength to strength since they joined LNER. To mark International Women’s Day 2024, they enjoyed a rooftop tour high above the glass ceilings of a railway station – a representation of some of the challenges that have been overcome in the journey towards inclusivity and equality.
Data from LNER shows it is on track to meet its ambition of 45 per cent overall female representation by 2025, with the number of women in the business rising to 43.3 per cent over the last year. Meanwhile, the number of women promoted from within has also risen, accounting for 45.3 per cent of all promotions, compared with 40.4 per cent previously.
Claire Ansley, People and Customer Experience Director at LNER, said: “Our people are fundamental to our success. We recognise that fostering an inclusive culture and having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve are key and we are proud to be launching the Women@LNER network on International Women’s Day.
“We are committed to reaching our ambitions of 45 per cent female representation by 2025 and the data we are sharing shows the promising steps we are taking towards achieving this; however, we know there is still work to do.
“From data science roles to train driving, our colleagues at LNER show how they inspire inclusion when they come to work every day. There are so many opportunities in rail, and we want to encourage even more women to join the industry.”
Operator TransPennine Express (TPE) has also joined the conversation, calling for more women to pursue a career in rail.
TPE revealed that a quarter (24 per cent) of its employees are women, adding that this figure had grown from just 18 per cent in 2018.
Currently almost half (42 per cent) of TPE station staff and more than a third (38 per cent) of senior managers are women. TPE said that it was proud of its progress, but keen to increase these numbers.
Chris Jackson, Managing Director of TPE said: “We’re extremely proud of the work that we have done to raise the profile of women within our business, but we know that there is still work to be done.
“This International Women’s Day, we’re not only celebrating our incredible colleagues, but we’re also calling on more women to join our team and the rail industry in general.”
In the past year alone, TPE has seen a sizeable shift in the number of women applying and securing new roles. Almost a third (32 per cent) of all new hires have been women, up considerably on previous years.
TPE stated that 25 per cent of trainee drivers recruited this year were women – adding that it was also impressed by the number of applications from younger hopefuls.
Of the younger apprentices applying in the past year, almost 30 per cent were female. The operator said that this reflected a growing desire amongst younger women to join the industry.
This International Women’s Day, TPE is working with Smart Works Greater Manchester, a UK charity that exists to empower all women who need help getting into work. An incredible 69 per cent of its clients secured a job within a month of using the service.
Harriet Harbidge, Diversity and Inclusion Manager at TPE said: “We are committing to allow candidates applying at TPE, within the Greater Manchester area, to be able to access Smart Works Greater Manchester services through referral from TPE. This will allow women who are unemployed to access the service and come to interviews with us feeling their most confident and best selves.
“Women who already hold roles at TPE will also be volunteering to support the charity through our volunteering policy, and colleagues will be able to use work time to donate up to two days each year to help more women get into work.”
Since 2019, TPE has been successfully participating in women’s development programmes – both internal and external.
Finally, open access operator Hull Trains is celebrating its female employees and shining a spotlight on the opportunities it can offer people from diverse backgrounds.
Named Top Employer of the Year at the Women in Rail Awards, Hull Trains has worked to grow its female workforce. Its latest figures show a 51 per cent male/49 per cent female ratio across its operation, with 27 per cent of its train drivers female – well above the industry average of 6.5 per cent.
It added that 19 per cent of all employees take advantage of flexible working opportunities.
Hull Trains Service Delivery Director, Lou Mendham, said: “As an open access operator Hull Trains has championed equality and diversity for more than 23 years. We are proud to continue to celebrate the roles and contribution our colleagues make to even better reflect the communities across our region and the customers we are delighted to serve.”
Emma Ramsden, Driver has been with Hull Trains for 17 years, said: “There is a real opportunity for progression for all at Hull Trains, I’m very proud to have developed my career here.”
Steph Young, Onboard Manager, has also been with the business for 17 years. She commented: “I really enjoy that we’re one big family. Everybody sticks together and supports each other. It’s a great company to work for.”
Onboard Manager, Amber Barnes has been with the business for almost nine years, said: “I really enjoy working for Hull Trains because no two days are ever the same and there’s a real community feel to the organisation. I really enjoy working with different types of people every day.”
Onboard Host, Sue Franklin has nine years’ experience, added: “For me it’s so exciting to see the continued expansion and the opportunities that come with that. The people are the best thing about the company.”
In the run up to International Women’s Day, Hull Trains ran all-female crew train services, reaffirming its commitment to its ‘opportunity for all’ ethos.
