Team/Corporate Awards
Best Training or Development Programme Award
Recognition of an organisation that has developed a strong and successful training scheme or programme within the rail industry across the UK and Ireland.
Criteria: Please provide evidence to support all or most of the following criteria.
The winner of this category will:
- Have developed a strong and successful training scheme and/or programme in their company and UK and Irish rail, which supported addressing gender balance, equity, diversity, and inclusion in UK and Irish rail.
- Have received positive internal and external feedback from participants.
- Have made a real improvement in participant career progression within the organisation, in staff retention and/or an increased percentage of participants in the organisation’s workforce.
- Have delivered a scheme which has made a real difference to the culture within the company.
Social Mobility Award
Recognition of an organisation that has developed a strong and successful social mobility ethos within the rail industry across the UK and Ireland.
Criteria: Please provide evidence to support all or most of the following criteria.
The winner of this category will:
- Have created accessible pathways into rail for women from underrepresented or disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds.
- Have implemented initiatives that remove barriers to recruitment, training or career progression.
- Have worked with schools, colleges, universities or community organisations to inspire and attract future female talent.
- Have demonstrated measurable outcomes, such as increased recruitment, retention or progression of women who may otherwise have faced barriers to entering the industry.
- Have provided mentoring, sponsorship, coaching or development programmes that improve long-term career prospects.
- Have shown how their initiatives have created lasting opportunities for individuals rather than one-off activities.
- Have demonstrated leadership commitment and embedded social mobility within their wider diversity and inclusion strategy.
Sponsored by:
Employer of the Year Award
Recognition of an employer that has taken proactive steps to embed an inclusive culture.
Criteria: Please provide evidence to support all or most of the following criteria.
The winner of this category will:
- Have taken proactive steps to embed an inclusive culture, specifically towards female talent retention within their organisation and in the railway.
- Have devised initiatives to identify and promote female talent within their company with a view to fostering the next generation of female leaders in rail.
- Have demonstrated a commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace.
- Have devised a range of policies and practices related to family support, women’s career progression and flexible working within their organisation and/or the UK and Irish rail industry.
- Be able to demonstrate step change.
- Have influenced the future of the UK and Irish rail industry by making the rail sector a better place to work by:
- Encouraging organisation(s) to support women in the rail industry.
- Campaigning for rail at schools, colleges, and universities.
- Proactively taking action to influence policy changes.
Sponsored by:
Best Networking Group Award
To recognise a networking group in the rail industry that has demonstrated exceptional ability to connect people, promote inclusion, and foster collaboration and professional development across all backgrounds, roles, and organisations. This award is open to all.
Criteria: Please provide evidence to support all or most of the following criteria.
The winner of this category will:
- Demonstrate a clear mission and objectives supporting equality, collaboration, well-being and professional growth in rail.
- Evidence of breadth and diversity of membership (roles, disciplines, seniority, backgrounds, regions).
- Evidence of meaningful collaboration across the rail ecosystem (operators, suppliers, infrastructure, academia, public sector).
- Clear evidence of tangible results: improved engagement, retention, professional development, or inclusion.
- Evidence of a genuinely inclusive culture – welcoming all genders, backgrounds, and abilities.
- Creative or forward-thinking approaches to connecting people and sharing knowledge.
The Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Team Award
Recognition of an organisation or team that has developed a strong and successful approach to EDI. This award category recognises that not all companies or teams will have the same starting point, resources, and opportunities to build upon.
Criteria: Please provide evidence to support all or most of the following criteria.
The winner of this category will:
- Have put in place a strong and successful Equality, Diversity and Inclusion programme in their company or UK and Irish rail.
- Have made a tangible and positive effect within the workforce, and if applicable, the wider UK and Irish rail industry.
- Recognise the role our industry can play in creating opportunities and unlocking talent.
- Be able to demonstrate how they have met the criteria and/or demonstrated the values of the WR/RIA EDI Charter.
- Have demonstrated a proactive, inclusive, and diverse mindset and culture in the broad sense.
- Have made a particular effort to ensure diverse people are given the opportunity to have the benefit of a rail career.
- Have demonstrated methods used to employ/support diverse people.
- Have actively encouraged any ‘quiet voices’ and ensured that people have equal opportunity.
Individual Awards
The Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Individual Award
Recognition of a woman who has developed a strong and successful approach to EDI. This award category recognises that not all individuals work in companies or teams, nor will they have the same starting point, resources, and opportunities to build upon.
Criteria: Please provide evidence to support all or most of the following criteria.
The winner of this category will:
- Have been part of or have put in place a strong and successful Equality, Diversity and Inclusion programme in their company or UK and Irish rail.
- Have made a tangible and positive effect within the workforce, and if applicable, the wider UK and Irish rail industry.
- Recognise the role our industry can play in creating opportunities and unlocking talent.
- Be able to demonstrate how they have met the criteria and/or demonstrated the values of the WR/RIA EDI Charter.
- Have demonstrated a proactive, inclusive, and diverse mindset and culture in the broad sense.
- Have made a particular effort to ensure diverse people are given the opportunity to have the benefit of a rail career.
- Have demonstrated methods used to employ/support diverse people.
Female Apprentice of the Year Award
Recognition of the talent and outstanding contribution of a female apprentice. The award is open to apprentices of all ages.
Criteria: Please provide evidence to support all or most of the following criteria.
The winner of this category will:
- Be an apprentice enrolled to receive a recognised programme.
- Have made an outstanding contribution to the UK and Irish rail sector for a maximum of three years (from date of nomination).
- Be a champion of gender balance, equity, diversity, and inclusion in UK and Irish rail.
- Have demonstrated exceptional skills as an apprentice.
- Have demonstrated an exemplary drive and determination.
- Have demonstrated innovation and pro-activity as an apprentice.
Sponsored by:
Female Rising Star of the Year Award
Recognition of a remarkable woman who is in their first five years of a career in the railway but has already made an impact on colleagues, peers and customers.
Criteria: Please provide evidence to support all or most of the following criteria.
The winner of this category will:
- Have made an outstanding contribution to the UK and Irish rail sector for a maximum of five years (from date of nomination).
- Be a champion of gender balance, equity, diversity, and inclusion in UK and Irish rail.
- Have demonstrated outstanding (technical or non-technical) abilities.
- Have demonstrated strong personal values.
- Have demonstrated tremendous initiative and proactivity.
- Have inspired and been a role model to others.
- Have demonstrated potential in shaping the future of our industry.
Sponsored by:
*At Women in Rail, the words “woman”, “women” and “female”, when used by the team, span the nine protected characteristics, including age, gender, ethnicity, religion, disability, and sexual orientation, as well as broader behavioural and background diversity, such as thinking and personality types, socio-economic background and life experience and include women who are transitioning and non-binary people.
Male Ally of the Year Award
Recognition of a male ally professional who has made an outstanding contribution to championing women in the UK and Irish rail industry.
Criteria: Please provide evidence to support all or most of the following criteria.
The winner of this category will:
- Be a champion of gender balance, equity, diversity, and inclusion in UK and Irish rail.
- Be inspirational in what they have achieved.
- Be a role model to others.
- Have leaned into the debate and been proactive in putting in place a solid support structure for women.
- Have inspired women to opt for a career in the sector.
- Be a role model whose achievements, infectious energy, and determination to improve gender balance, equity, diversity, and inclusion in the rail sector have been inspirational.
- Have supported women in the workplace overcome challenges and adversity, and/or who have taken a significant career break to bring up a family, and/or been a carer before returning to the railway and achieving great things.
Credit will be given if the nominee’s achievements are outside their employment, and they have shown pure altruism.
Inspirational Frontline Woman of the Year Award
Recognition of a Frontline female who has made an outstanding contribution to the UK and Irish rail sector. This award is open to ALL female frontline staff, not necessarily managers of public-facing staff.
Criteria: Please provide evidence to support all or most of the following criteria.
The winner of this category will:
- Be a champion of gender balance, equity, diversity, and inclusion in UK and Irish rail.
- Be able to demonstrate what they have achieved in a frontline role.
- Demonstrate how they have gone above and beyond the call of duty in their frontline role.
- Be inspirational in what they have achieved within a frontline environment
- Be a role model to others.
- Have leaned into the debate and been proactive in putting in place a solid support structure for women.
- Have inspired women to opt for a career in the sector.
- Be a role model whose achievements, infectious energy, and determination to improve gender balance, equality, diversity, and inclusion in the rail sector have been inspirational.
- Have overcome challenges and adversity and/or taken a significant career break to bring up a family and/or be a carer before returning to the railway and achieving great things
Credit will be given if the nominee’s achievements are outside their employment and they have shown pure altruism.
Sponsored by:
Inspirational Woman of the Year Award
Recognition of a female professional who has made an outstanding contribution to the UK and Irish rail sector.
Criteria: Please provide evidence to support all or most of the following criteria.
The winner of this category will:
- Be a champion of gender balance, equity, diversity, and inclusion in UK and Irish rail.
- Be inspirational in what they have achieved.
- Be a role model to others.
- Have leaned into the debate and been proactive in putting in place a solid support structure for women.
- Have inspired women to opt for a career in the sector.
- Be a role model whose achievements, infectious energy, and determination to improve gender balance, equality, diversity, and inclusion in the rail sector have been inspirational.
- Have overcome challenges and adversity and/or taken a significant career break to bring up a family and/or be a carer before returning to the railway and achieving great things.
Credit will be given if the nominee’s achievements are outside their employment, and they have shown pure altruism.
The Adeline Ginn Unsung Hero Award
The Adeline Ginn Unsung Hero Award will be presented to a woman who has gone above and beyond the call of duty.
Criteria: Please provide evidence to support all or most of the following criteria.
The winner of this category will:
- Have gone above and beyond the call of duty – without recognition – in the course of their employment.
- Have made an exceptional contribution to others – individuals or communities – and demonstrated outstanding kindness, care, and compassion, acting as an inspiration to others.
- Have continued to work tirelessly, contributing to change within their workplace, for colleagues or their local community.
Credit will be given if the nominee’s achievements are outside their employment, and they have shown pure altruism.
The Adeline Ginn Lifetime Achievement Award
The Adeline Ginn Lifetime Achievement Award will recognise a woman who has made significant and lasting contributions to the rail industry over the course of their career.
Criteria: Please provide evidence to support all or most of the following criteria.
The winner of this category will:
- Have gone above and beyond their day job to support others – individuals or communities.
- Have made an exceptional contribution to others – individuals or communities – and demonstrated outstanding kindness, care, and compassion, acting as an inspiration to others.
- Have continued to work tirelessly, contributing to helping the railway serve passengers and customers.
- Have gone above and beyond to support their colleagues working in operational roles.
- Have carried on in their substantive operational roles but also undertaken other voluntary activities to support their local community.
Credit will be given if the nominee’s achievements are outside their employment, and they have shown pure altruism.
At Women in Rail and SWiFT, we support women and recognise that women may have multiple protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010, including age, disability, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation and gender reassignment.
We are committed to fostering an environment of inclusion, dignity and respect for everyone, including trans and non-binary people. We also recognise and value the broader diversity of socio-economic backgrounds, thinking styles, lived experiences and perspectives that enrich our industry and strengthen our community.
