WOMEN IN RAIL AWARDS 2023

Recognition of the talent and outstanding contribution of a female* apprentice who is in the first 3 years of her/their (first) apprenticeship in the rail industry (whether a new entrant or upskilling) but who has shown exceptional skills as an apprentice and whose behaviour and professionalism has been exemplary and inspirational.

Criteria: winner of this category will:

• Be a female* who has been employed in the UK railway industry for a maximum of 3 years
• The nominee’s age is irrelevant
• The nominee can be a new entrant to the railway sector or be upskilled from another specialism/career/sector
• The nominee must have demonstrated (and this must be evidenced) exceptional skills as a female* apprentice and an exemplary drive and determination and/or an innovative mind and/or tremendous initiative and proactivity as an apprentice.

*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.

Sponsor:

Recognition of the talent and outstanding contribution of a male* apprentice who is in the first 3 years of his/their (first) apprenticeship in the rail industry (whether a new entrant or upskilling) but who has shown exceptional skills as an apprentice and whose behaviour and professionalism has been exemplary and inspirational.

Criteria: winner of this category will:

• Be a male* who has been employed in the UK railway industry for a maximum of 3 years
• The nominee’s age is irrelevant
• The nominee can be a new entrant to the railway sector or be upskilled from another specialism/career/sector
• The nominee must have demonstrated (and this must be evidenced) exceptional skills as a male* apprentice and an exemplary drive and determination and/or an innovative mind and/or tremendous initiative and proactivity as an apprentice.

*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.

**At Women in Rail, the words “man”, “men” and “male” when used by the team, span the nine protected characteristics also include men who are transitioning and non-binary people.

Recognition of a remarkable woman* who is in the early stages (e.g. the first 3 years in the aggregate) of a career in the rail industry but has already made an impact on colleagues, peers and customers by demonstrating outstanding (technical and/or non-technical) abilities, strong personal values and proactive thinking; a woman* who is a role model to others and has shown potential in shaping the future of our industry and/or displayed tremendous initiative and proactivity, either by trying something different, empowering others in our sector or inspiring them to opt for a career in rail.

Criteria: winner of this category will:

• Have been working in the UK railway industry for no more than 3 years (you must state in your nomination form the date when your nominee started working in UK rail and in her/their company)
• The nominee’s age is irrelevant
• The nominee can be a new entrant to the railway sector or be upskilled from another specialism/career/sector
• The nominee must have demonstrated outstanding technical or non-technical abilities (depending on the nominee’s role), strong personal values and proactive thinking
• The nominee must have inspired and be (and this must be evidenced in not more than 2 additional documents) a role model to others
• The nominee must have shown potential in shaping the future of our industry and/or displayed tremendous initiative and proactivity.

*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.

Sponsor:

Recognition of a remarkable man* who is in the early stages (e.g. the first 3 years in the aggregate) of a career in the rail industry but has already made an impact on colleagues, peers and customers by demonstrating outstanding (technical and/or non-technical) abilities, strong personal values and proactive thinking; a man* who is a role model to others and has shown potential in shaping the future of our industry and/or displayed tremendous initiative and proactivity, either by trying something different, empowering others in our sector or inspiring them to opt for a career in rail.

Criteria: winner of this category will:

• Have been working in the UK railway industry for no more than 3 years (you must state in your nomination form the date when your nominee started working in UK rail and in his/ their company)
• The nominee’s age is irrelevant
• The nominee can be a new entrant to the railway sector or be upskilled from another specialism/career/sector
• The nominee must have demonstrated outstanding technical or non-technical abilities (depending on the nominee’s role), strong personal values and proactive thinking
• The nominee must have inspired and be (and this must be evidenced in not more than 2 additional documents) a role model to others
• The nominee must have shown potential in shaping the future of our industry and/or displayed tremendous initiative and proactivity.

*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.

**At Women in Rail, the words “man”, “men” and “male” when used by the team, span the nine protected characteristics also include men who are transitioning and non-binary people.

Recognition of a female* professional who has made an outstanding contribution to the UK rail sector by proactively influencing others to promote gender balance, equality, diversity and inclusion in their workplace or in rail; a woman* who has inspired women* to opt for a career in the sector; a woman* who has leaned into the debate and put in place a support structure for women* in the rail industry; a role model whose achievements, infectious energy and determination to improve gender balance, equality, diversity and inclusion in the rail sector has been inspirational; a woman* who overcame challenges and adversity and/or took a significant career break to bring up a family and/or be a carer before returning to the railway and achieving great things.

Criteria: winner of this category will meet all or most of the following criteria:

• Be a champion of gender balance, equality, diversity, and inclusion in UK rail
• Someone who overcame adversity and challenges
• Someone who is inspirational in what they have achieved
• A role model to others
• Someone who has leaned into the debate and been proactive in putting in place a solid support structure for women*
• Someone who has inspired other women* to opt for a career in the sector
• A role model whose achievements, infectious energy, and determination to improve gender balance, equality, diversity, and inclusion in the rail sector has been inspirational
• Someone who overcame challenges and adversity and/or took 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 her/their employment, and she has/they have shown pure altruism.

*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.

Sponsor:

Recognition of a male** professional who has made an outstanding contribution to the UK rail sector by proactively influencing others to promote gender balance, equality, diversity and inclusion in his/their workplace or in rail; a man who has inspired women* to opt for a career in the sector; a man who has leaned into the debate and put in place a support structure for women* in the rail industry; a role model whose achievements, infectious energy and determination to improve gender balance, equality, diversity and inclusion in the rail sector has been inspirational; a man** who overcame challenges and adversity and/or took a significant career break to bring up a family and/or be a carer before returning to the railway and achieving great things.

Criteria: winner of this category will meet all or most of the following criteria:

• Be a champion of gender balance, equality, diversity, and inclusion in UK rail
• Someone who overcame adversity and challenges
• Someone who is inspirational in what he has achieved
• A role model to others
• Someone who has leaned into the debate and been proactive in putting in place a solid support structure for women*
• Someone who has inspired women* to opt for a career in the sector
• A role model whose achievements, infectious energy, and determination to improve gender balance, equality, diversity, and inclusion in the rail sector has been inspirational
• Someone who overcame challenges and adversity and/or took 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 his/their employment, and he has/they have has shown pure altruism.

* 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.

**At Women in Rail, the words “man”, “men” and “male” when used by the team, span the nine protected characteristics also include men who are transitioning and non-binary people.

Sponsor:

Recognition of an individual who has developed a strong and successful approach to EDI. Winning submissions must prove how they have made a tangible and positive effect within the workforce, and if applicable, the wider UK rail industry. They must also demonstrate how they have met the criteria and/or demonstrated the values of the WR/RIA EDI Charter. This award category recognises that not all individuals will have the same starting point, resources, and opportunities to build upon.

The nominee must support social mobility and be committed to creating equal opportunities for everyone. They will recognise the role our industry can play in creating opportunities and unlocking talent. They understand that embedding an inclusive culture within their own organisations, and collectively within the UK railway industry, is crucial to unlocking the potential a diverse workforce can offer. Greater inclusivity and diversity will help develop the next generation of leaders in rail, make our sector a more attractive career, foster innovation and play a substantial role in the creation of a best-in-class railway sector in the UK.

Criteria: winner of this category will have made a significant difference against a number of the following criteria:

• Have put in place a strong and successful Equality, Diversity and Inclusion programme in its company or UK rail
• Have demonstrated a pro-active inclusive and diversity mindset and culture in the broad sense
• Evidence must be provided of the benefits of work done by the nominee
• The nominee must have made a particular effort to ensure diverse people are given the opportunity to have the benefit of a rail career
• Evidence must be provided of the methods used by the nominee to employ/support diverse people
• The nominee must have demonstrated a diversity mindset
• The benefits of the nominee’s approach must be demonstrated
• Actively encouraging any ‘quiet voices’ and ensuring that people have equal opportunity

Sponsor:

NEW for 2023

The Adeline Ginn Unsung Hero Award will be presented to an individual who has achieved great things in their workplace or has contributed to their workplace or community via activities – yet has not yet been celebrated or recognised for their work. This award acts to recognise someone who has gone above and beyond the call of duty, without notice; someone who has made a real difference to the lives and livelihoods of their colleagues or members of their community, which would otherwise go unrecognised. 

Criteria: the winner of this category will meet all or most of the following criteria:

• Someone who has gone above and beyond the call of duty – without recognition – in the course of their employment
• Someone who has made an exceptional contribution to others – individuals or communities – and demonstrated outstanding kindness, care, and compassion, acting as an inspiration to others
• Someone who has continued to work tirelessly, contributing to change within their workplace, for colleagues or for their local community

NEW for 2023

The Adeline Ginn Lifetime Achievement Award will recognise an individual who has acted/acts as a role model, leading by example and showing commitment to engaging the next generation by dedicating his/her/their career and has made significant and lasting contributions to the rail industry.

Criteria: the winner of this category will meet all or most of the following criteria:

• Someone who has gone above and beyond his/her/their day job to support others – individuals or communities
• Someone who has made an exceptional contribution to others – individuals or communities – and demonstrated outstanding kindness, care, and compassion, acting as an inspiration to others
• Someone who has continued to work tirelessly, contributing to helping the railway serving passengers and customers
• Someone who has gone over and above support their colleagues working in operational roles
• Someone who carried on in their substantive operational roles, but also undertook other voluntary activities to support their local community.