WOMEN IN RAIL AWARDS 2023 WINNERS
Training and Development Program for Women@Siemens Mobility UK
Best Training or Development Programme Award
Training and Development Program for Women@Siemens Mobility UK
Winner
Siemens Mobility has developed a comprehensive programme of training to develop and retain female talent at all levels and across all business units. An impressive success rate has seen 67% of attendees on its Inspire programme being promoted to more senior roles.
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Skanska, Costain, STRABAG joint venture
Social Value Award
Skanska, Costain, STRABAG joint venture
Winner
SCS have developed a truly inclusive culture with social value embedded at the heart of the organisation along with a commitment to ensure that local people benefit from the investment in HS2, through economic growth, job opportunities and education and career pathways for young people.
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Hull Trains
Top Employer of the Year Award
Hull Trains
Winner
Open Access operator Hull Trains is proud to have the highest percentage of female drivers in the industry. The company provides pathways to progression for women who want to balance family life with a career and with a 50-50 boardroom diversity, Hull Trains is committed to helping attract more females into the railway industry.
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Arup’s UKIMEA EDI Team
The Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Team Award
Arup’s UKIMEA EDI Team
Winner
Arup is committed to embedding EDI into everything it does and its EDI Team has worked to remove barriers to career progression and nurture talent by offering development opportunities at all career levels. ARUP’s EDI Team has worked with diverse clients and communities to support opportunities for all, helping to shape a better world.
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Elizabeth O. Umoke - Head of Revenue Protection and Security. EDI Steering Group Lead, Arriva Rail London - London Overground
The Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Individual Award
Elizabeth O. Umoke - Head of Revenue Protection and Security. EDI Steering Group Lead, Arriva Rail London - London Overground
Winner
On top of her day job at Arriva Rail London, Elizabeth has spearheaded the company’s EDI agenda for the past 3 years, as its EDI Steering Group lead. She has fostered strategic external partnerships and trialled new approaches to lead best practice EDI for Arriva Rail London, Arriva Group and the industry as a whole.
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Laura Phoenix - Senior Legal Counsel, Aufsichtsratsmitglied (Supervisory Board Member, Alstom DE) & Voices of Disability Chair, Alstom
The Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Individual Award
Laura Phoenix - Senior Legal Counsel, Aufsichtsratsmitglied (Supervisory Board Member, Alstom DE) & Voices of Disability Chair, Alstom
Winner
In her voluntary role as Alstom’s Voices of Disability Group Chair, Laura has developed a real sense of pride and inclusion within the disabled and neurodiverse members of the workforce. Championing a range of initiatives Laura has led Alstom to commit to encouraging individuals to declare their protected characteristics and apply for roles without fear of rejection.
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Mark Barron - Ashford Conductor, Southeastern
Male Apprentice of the Year Award
Mark Barron - Ashford Conductor, Southeastern
Winner
Mark joined Southeastern in February 2022 wanting a new career challenge after roles outside rail. Proving that age is no barrier Conductor Mark has embraced the challenge by going the extra mile with regards to work and learning, impressing not only the apprenticeship team but his trainers, mangers and the executive team.
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Rio Pearce - Apprentice Technician, West Midlands Trains
Female Apprentice of the Year Award
Rio Pearce - Apprentice Technician, West Midlands Trains
Winner
Rio has worked tirelessly for three years as an apprentice engineer at WMT and is the perfect role model for young women looking to enter the industry. Having shown outstanding dedication, drive and commitment towards learning complex aspects of rail engineering, Rio has smashed boundaries and is held in high regard by individuals across the business. She promotes the company’s apprentice scheme and is inspiring the next generation of young women to take up a career in rail.
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Mohammed Hadawi - Cost Consultant, Gleeds
Male Rising Star of the Year Award
Mohammed Hadawi - Cost Consultant, Gleeds
Winner
Mohammed is a driven, highly ambitious and determined individual who doesn’t shy away from hard work, however he is also wholly altruistic and inclusive, with a clear and sympathetic understanding of the needs of others. Mohammed has focused on bringing change and inclusion into the rail industry, with his drive and kindness setting him apart from most.
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Paige Stevens - Business Management Graduate, Balfour Beatty Rail
Female Rising Star of the Year Award
Paige Stevens - Business Management Graduate, Balfour Beatty Rail
Winner
Since joining Balfour Beatty Paige has achieved an incredible amount, becoming a driving force within the company through fundraising, supporting charities, and amplifying the voices that deserve to be heard. She has also revolutionised the experience of Early Careers colleagues through a scheme that provides them with the strongest start to their careers.
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Tom Flannery - Practice Manager – Rolling Stock Technical Services, Atkins
Inspirational Man of the Year Award
Tom Flannery - Practice Manager – Rolling Stock Technical Services, Atkins
Winner
Having overcome some barriers of his own Tom has recognised, valued and championed the benefit of an inclusive workplace and is a trailblazing EDI change agent and ally. Renowned for creating a safe space and trusting environment, Tom mentors and supports colleagues ‘to be themselves’. He’s a founding member of the WR/RIA EDI Charter Working Group and as a hands-on dad Tom practices and promotes a healthy work/life balance and supports others to do so.
Award Category sponsored by
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Kate Kenny - Senior Vice President & General Manager, P&PS Europe, Jacobs
Inspirational Woman of the Year Award
Kate Kenny - Senior Vice President & General Manager, P&PS Europe, Jacobs
Winner
Throughout her career in business consultancy, Kate has used her extraordinary capabilities and growing platform to make an impact; whether mentoring and helping to develop others, being active in the professional community, or through her diverse roles at Jacobs. Kate’s recent promotion to Senior Vice President and General Manager for Europe means that she is the youngest person and only female to hold this role to date.
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Laura Warwick - Team Leader and Community Champion, Avanti West Coast
The Adeline Ginn Unsung Hero Award
Laura Warwick - Team Leader and Community Champion, Avanti West Coast
Winner
Laura has been an absolute inspiration to her colleagues, customers and the wider community of Runcorn, going BEYOND above and beyond to support local charities, especially those focusing on mental health support, making a huge difference to the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in the area. She has been a driving force behind national community initiatives, including leading Avanti's entire project to celebrate the Queen's Jubilee.
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Neil Pepper MBE - Construction Manager, London Underground
The Adeline Ginn Lifetime Achievement Award
Neil Pepper MBE - Construction Manager, London Underground
Winner
After 36 years in the UK rail industry, Neil has become an inspirational role model. Always going above and beyond the day job, he has supported customers and colleagues, as well as the wider rail industry and across communities internationally. As a STEM Ambassador, he has inspired thousands of children in London and the home counties and as a passionate advocate for women within the industry and a champion of equality, diversity and inclusion for all, leaving an outstanding mark on the world.
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WOMEN IN RAIL AWARDS 2023 HIGHLY COMMENDED
QTS Rail Skills Academy
Best Training or Development Programme Award
QTS Rail Skills Academy
The QTS Rail Skills Academy is a unique, first of its kind, training programme to attract young talent in to the rail industry and equip them to start their career journey. To date the programme has achieved 100% success rate, not only increasing team numbers but also the diversity and culture of the QTS workforce. The programme has been highly commended by Network Rail.
Sponsored by
Network Rail and Partners on the Transpennine Route Upgrade
Social Value Award
Network Rail and Partners on the Transpennine Route Upgrade
TRU is a multi-billion-pound rail infrastructure programme being by over nine organisations which are united in a common mission to deliver the greatest value to communities along the route. Social value is being used as a key decision-making tool to drive positive impact during construction and beyond. The “TRU Change” social value programme has delivered over £952 million of value through activities designed and delivered with and for local communities.
Award Category sponsored by
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Northern
Top Employer of the Year Award
Northern
Northern’s EDI strategy reflects the journey its entire team is taking together. Its approach to EDI includes involvement from colleagues across the business right up to director level. Northern is seeing more candidates from under-represented groups appointed, whilst a working group dedicated to encouraging and assisting female colleagues to apply for promotions has been established.
Award Category sponsored by
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HS2 EDI Team
The Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Team Award
HS2 EDI Team
HS2 is setting new EDI standards and its aspiration is to change traditional views of the industry and to leave a lasting legacy of equality and inclusivity, where under-represented groups can feel welcome, safe and, most importantly, thrive. With a workforce of over 30,000, HS2 is committed to ensuring inclusivity is integral to everyone working on the project now and in the years to come.
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Ben Martin - Signal Engineer Apprentice, PM Training and Assessing Ltd
Male Apprentice of the Year Award
Ben Martin - Signal Engineer Apprentice, PM Training and Assessing Ltd
Ben is in the final year of his apprenticeship on the railway and at 21 he is already showing great potential within the industry. He has excelled in his apprenticeship in both his college work and practical skills. Ben’s academic work has always been to a high standard, whilst his character, work ethic and impressive skill is really shining through and deserves to be recognised.
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Rachel Graham - Apprentice Software Developer, Worldline UK&I
Female Apprentice of the Year Award
Rachel Graham - Apprentice Software Developer, Worldline UK&I
Rachel Graham joined Worldline in a significant career change. She consistently seeks out additional training to solidify concepts and has shown drive and determination – even taking advantage of quiet days to further her learning. Rachel proactively took on the voluntary role of Co-Lead for the Gender pillar/network, advocating for gender equality and diversity within the company and to support minorities in STEM.
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Daniel Lixandru - Assistant Project Manager, Faithful+Gould
Male Rising Star of the Year Award
Daniel Lixandru - Assistant Project Manager, Faithful+Gould
Daniel has great potential because he is goal-oriented, proactive, and constantly acts on his own initiative. His dynamism, initiative, drive, and desire to learn, coupled with an outstanding work ethic and professionalism, have led to him impacting one of the largest rail infrastructure projects in Europe. He consistently demonstrates determination and integrity in providing clients with high-quality outputs under demanding conditions.
Award Category sponsored by
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Oliver Grove - Head of Project Management, Siemens Mobility
Male Rising Star of the Year Award
Oliver Grove - Head of Project Management, Siemens Mobility
Ollie has revolutionised the way Siemens Mobility approach project management by being inclusive and by enabling people to work collaboratively. This desire for inclusivity is also demonstrated by his involvement in the Siemens Mobility disability network, where he is a real driver for change. He has encouraged cross-industry learning and introduced a programme in his team where people are encouraged to think about their impact on society holistically and not just through their work.
Award Category sponsored by
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Gary Lincoln - Group Director, TXM Group
Inspirational Man of the Year Award
Gary Lincoln - Group Director, TXM Group
Gary is a true advocate for gender equality and is a firm believer that everyone has something valuable to offer, Gary has helped a number of women to find employment and is driven to promote fairness and inclusivity. He dedicates much of his time as a mentor, pushing for change in the workplace, and challenging old stigmas directly to ensure that women have a voice and equal opportunity.
Award Category sponsored by
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Jess Bates - Client Director, Atkins
Inspirational Woman of the Year Award
Jess Bates - Client Director, Atkins
Despite her own personal challenges Jess has progressed rapidly to Director on the Leadership Team at Atkins, creating a personal brand dedicated to equal opportunities and inclusivity. She is the WR Signatory, a co-founding member of the industry board RUI and is leading the ground-breaking industry initiative – Governors for Schools – seeing possibilities beyond the present to nurture diversity in Engineering.
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