Marking South Asian Heritage Month with Baggy Shanker, MP 

A Women in Rail National Event in collaboration with Network Rail’s Cultural Fusion employee network

To mark South Asian Heritage Month 2026, Women in Rail, in collaboration with Network Rail’s Cultural Fusion employee network, hosted a special online conversation with Baggy Shanker MP, Member of Parliament for Derby South. Held on 14 July 2026 and co-hosted by Anit Chandarana and Rajinder Pryor, the event brought together colleagues from across the rail and transport industry to explore heritage, representation, public service and the role of transport in connecting communities.

The session, reinforced the importance of this year’s South Asian Heritage Month, theme Unity in Diversity and the appetite for open discussion about inclusion across the rail and transport sectors.

A personal journey rooted in community

Baggy shared a personal account of his journey from growing up in a large South Asian family in Derby to serving his local community as a councillor for 18 years before being elected to Parliament. He spoke movingly about the influence of his father, who came to Derby from Punjab, India in the late 1950s, built a life without speaking English, and became a powerful example of community leadership and resilience. That sense of service, fairness and responsibility became a thread running throughout Baggy’s own career.

From apprenticeship to Parliament

The conversation touched on Baggy’s engineering background, beginning with his apprenticeship at Celanese in 1989 and later work at Rolls-Royce. He reflected on the value of apprenticeships as a practical and empowering route into skilled employment, offering young people workplace experience, confidence and opportunities that can shape a career. His reflections were a timely reminder of the need to promote a wider range of pathways into rail and transport, beyond traditional academic routes.

Transport as a force for connection

As a former member of the Transport Select Committee, Baggy spoke passionately about the role transport plays in connecting people, places and opportunities. He highlighted Derby’s proud position as a transport and engineering powerhouse, with organisations such as Alstom, Rolls-Royce and Toyota contributing to the city’s industrial strength. He also underlined the importance of affordable, reliable and greener public transport in supporting communities and creating a more sustainable future.

Representation, inclusion and challenging division

A powerful theme throughout the event was the importance of representation and inclusion. Baggy spoke candidly about the challenges faced by ethnic minority communities in politics and public life, and the need to challenge racism, division and discrimination wherever they appear. He encouraged people from diverse backgrounds to step forward, build networks, support one another and seek leadership roles across transport and beyond.

The discussion also prompted reflection on how the rail industry can continue to attract, retain and progress people from underrepresented groups. This includes raising awareness of the breadth of careers available in transport, creating inclusive environments, and actively encouraging talented people to put themselves forward for senior roles.

 

Baggy Shanker, MP

Born and raised in Derby, and having been educated from nursery to University all in Derby, Baggy is a passionate advocate for the community as the Labour and Cooperative Member of Parliament for Derby South.

Prior to becoming an MP, Baggy joined Derby City Council as a Councillor in 2008 and was proud to be elected as leader of the Council in 2023, representing the community which he has lived and worked in for so many years. Alongside his Council role, he has served on numerous charitable and voluntary groups in Derby for over 30 years.

Having left school at 16 to work as an engineering apprentice and with extensive experience in engineering roles, working at both Celanese and Rolls Royce, Baggy is a leading voice on British engineering and manufacturing in Parliament, alongside his role as a member of the Transport Select Committee.

 

In collaboration with