The first Women in Rail Awards took place on Thursday 19 April 2018 at the stunning ‘Underglobe’ beneath Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, London.
The Awards, which marked the fifth anniversary of the official launch of the Women in Rail charity, showcased individuals, teams and companies (large or small) whose stories may not be widely known but who, in the last 5 years, have done amazing work to improve gender balance, diversity and inclusion in the UK railway industry.
Nine awards and four special commendations were awarded across five individual categories and four team and corporate categories.
The event was opened by Jo Johnson MP, Minister of State for Transport, Minister for London with Rachel Riley, Television Presenter, acting as host and mistress of ceremonies.
The evening was a huge success with over 350 attendees from across the railway industry joining together to celebrate colleagues, peers, managers, teams and organisations who have been inspirational in pushing forward the gender balance, diversity and inclusion agenda in UK rail in the last few years.
Congratulations to all of those who were shortlisted for the Awards and a big well done to our winners below…
WOMEN IN RAIL AWARDS 2018 WINNERS
High Speed 1 – Management Board
Highest Gender Balanced and Diverse Workforce Award
High Speed 1 – Management Board
Winner
The judges were impressed by the level of commitment demonstrated by HS1 and its HR strategy aimed at attracting, developing and retaining talent.
The award was collected by Gemma Watts, Accounts Payable & Receivable Manager for High Speed 1.
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Virgin Trains - West Coast Trains
(Virgin Trains Talent Academy)
Best Graduate or Apprenticeship Programme of the Year Award
Virgin Trains - West Coast Trains
(Virgin Trains Talent Academy)
Winner
The judges commended Virgin Trains Talent Academy for launching its flagship entry-level apprenticeship scheme in 2017 to promote gender diversity across all roles. The scheme counts today 50% women of the 66 Level 2 entrants.
The award was collected by Natasha Grice, HR Director.
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Amey Plc Consulting and Rail HR Team
Diversity and Inclusion Award
Amey Plc Consulting and Rail HR Team
Winner
Amey Consulting and Rail HR Team were recognised for their work with the Guides Association and the development of a unique Engineering badge which, among other things, raises awareness to the wide range of engineering roles our industry has to offer.
The award was collected by Kirsty Jones, Head of HR for Rail.
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High Speed Two
(HS2)
Top Employer Award
High Speed Two
(HS2)
Winner
HS2 was recognised for its outstanding company statistics which includes a 35% female workforce and women counting for 27% of its Senior Leadership Team and 20% of its engineers, far surpassing the industry averages.
The award was collected by Amy Morley, Chief of Staff and Jim Crawford, Managing Director Phase 1.
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Arooba Noor
(Project Planning Apprentice, Transport for London)
Female Apprentice of the Year Award
Arooba Noor
(Project Planning Apprentice, Transport for London)
Winner
Arooba impressed the judges by working hard, including at weekends, to set up an internal programme to ensure every apprentice within TfL is given a chance to experience all aspects of the business. She contributed to discussions in the Houses of Parliament on the advancements of apprenticeship schemes across the country and regularly speaks at STEM events to promote TfL and raise awareness to the rewards a career within rail and her organisation can offer.
The award was collected by Arooba Noor, Project Planning Apprentice, Transport for London.
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Ruth Shevelan
(Assistant Engineer, Mott MacDonald)
Rising Star of the Year Award
Ruth Shevelan
(Assistant Engineer, Mott MacDonald)
Winner
A STEM Ambassador since 2016, Ruth was recognised for being a driving force in delivering school STEM experiences to promote careers in rail and being innovative in driving the development of a new OLE structure loading tool now used across Mott MacDonald.
The award was collected by Ruth Shevelan, Assistant Engineer, Mott MacDonald Limited.
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Rajinder Pryor
(Business Manager, Digital Rail, Network Rail)
Inspirational Woman of the Year Award
Rajinder Pryor
(Business Manager, Digital Rail, Network Rail)
Winner
Rajinder received a high number of quality nominations from peers and colleagues and impressed the Judges with her ability to raise awareness to the importance of gender equality through her own story of strength and courage.
The award was collected by Rajinder Pryor, Business Manager, Digital Rail, Network Rail.
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Brian Walton
(Operations Manager, Rail - BAM Nuttall)
Inspirational Man of the Year Award
Brian Walton
(Operations Manager, Rail - BAM Nuttall)
Winner
Brian was recognised for leading the formation of the Northern Hub Alliance on behalf of BAM Nuttall, championing diverse teams in the railway, supporting the STEM Ambassador Programme, advocating Unconscious Bias and MIND training as well as his role as mentor on the Women in Rail Mentoring Programme.
The award was collected by Brian Walton, Operations Manager, Rail – BAM Nuttall Limited.
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Emily Short
(Project Manager, Rail, BAM Nuttall)
The Women in Rail Award
Emily Short
(Project Manager, Rail, BAM Nuttall)
Winner
Emily was recognised for being a passionate advocate of women in engineering and for her work to raise the profile of women in the railway sector. As fellow of the Institute of Civil Engineers, she has also delivered complex railway engineering projects.
The award was collected by Brian Walton, Operations Manager, Rail – BAM Nuttall on behalf of Emily Short, Project Manager, Rail, BAM Nuttall.
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JUDGES SPECIAL AWARDS
Jacobs UK
Best Graduate or Apprenticeship Programme of the Year Award
Jacobs UK
Judges Special Award
Jacobs was recognised for its development programme which has been industry-leading for over 30 years and has over 700 graduates currently enrolled.
The award was collected by Susana Gozalo, Director of Operations Rail and Geotechnical Europe and Ellie Hurley-Simister, Rail Graduate Engineer.
The award was collected by Susana Gozalo, Director of Operations Rail and Geotechnical Europe – and Ellie Hurley-Simister, Rail Graduate Engineer.
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Angela Hern
(Head of Trains and Stations, Arriva Rail North)
Inspirational Woman of the Year Award
Angela Hern
(Head of Trains and Stations, Arriva Rail North)
Judges Special Award
Angela Hern was recognised for demonstrating outstanding leadership during the Manchester Victoria station terrorist attack on 22 May 2017.
The award was collected by Denise Crossan, PA to Regional Director Central – Arriva Rail North on behalf of Angela Hern, Head of Trains and Stations, Arriva Rail North.
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Bernadette Kelly
(Permanent Secretary, Department for Transport)
Inspirational Woman of the Year Award
Bernadette Kelly
(Permanent Secretary, Department for Transport)
Judges Special Award
Bernadette Kelly was commanded for leading the way in using her position and influence to drive forward systematic changes and diversity in the UK railway industry, for her role as an active supporter of both Women in Rail and initiatives aimed at promoting gender balance, diversity and inclusion in rail and for ensuring that, under her leadership, the number of women in senior roles within the Department for Transport has increased from 36% to 41% in just 12 months.
The award was collected by Bernadette Kelly, Permanent Secretary, Department for Transport.
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Mark Carne
(Chief Executive Officer, Network Rail)
The Women in Rail Award
Mark Carne
(Chief Executive Officer, Network Rail)
Mark Carne was recognised for his plans to attract, recruit, retain and develop women in the UK railway industry which include promoting STEM at schools, anonymous shortlists for job applicants, creating six staff networks, launching a pilot scheme to attract women returning to work and investing in research to demonstrate that diverse teams perform better.
The award was collected by Mark Carne, Chief Executive Officer, Network Rail.
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SPECIAL MENTIONS
BAM Nuttall
(BAM Rail Division)
Highest Gender Balanced and Diverse Workforce Award
BAM Nuttall
(BAM Rail Division)
Special Mention
BAM Nuttall’s Rail Division was recognised for its male/female ratios and its initiatives to attract, develop and support women, including Bring Your Daughter to Work Days, mentoring programme and STEM Ambassador activities.
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BTP Recruitment and Learning & Development
Best Graduate or Apprenticeship Programme of the Year Award
BTP Recruitment and Learning & Development
Special Mention
The Recruitment and Learning & Development Team of the British Transport Police was recognised for welcoming over 350 trainees in the past 12 months and increasing the number of female recruits by an astounding 180%.
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Siemens Rail Automation - Birmingham EDI Team
Diversity and Inclusion Award
Siemens Rail Automation - Birmingham EDI Team
Special Mention
Launched just twelve months ago, the Siemens Rail Automation - Birmingham EDI Team was recognised for its many achievements, including raising over £23K to present to the charity, Mind, and engaging with a local primary school to support a three-year STEM based program, including sponsorship of specialist mathematics software.
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TransPennine Express
Top Employer Award
TransPennine Express
Special Mention
TransPennine Express was recognised for developing female talent within the organisation, establishing a long-term strategy to encourage more women into rail and actively working with ‘Make the Grade’ to provide skill sharing workshops and presentations to children thereby helping to break down the myth that rail is a male-dominated industry.
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Merseyrail
Top Employer Award.
Merseyrail
Special Mention
Merseyrail were recognised for their inspiring efforts and passion to keep their staff motivated, supported and feeling valued.
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Mark Lomas
(Head of EDI - High Speed Two)
Inspirational Man of the Year Award
Mark Lomas
(Head of EDI - High Speed Two)
Mark was recognised for introducing leading initiatives in recruitment practices to promote gender balance, including 'blind auditioning' piloted in 2017, which resulted in a 50% increase in female and BAME candidates shortlisted and is being rolled out across High Speed 2. Speaking at over 30 events nationwide in the past year on disability inclusion and gender balance, Mark is a leading figure across the industry and actively encourages teams to participate in the annual Women in Rail Big Rail Diversity Challenge.
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