Headline sponsors:
Siemens has seen first-hand the benefits of having a diverse and inclusive workforce, and values the exceptional contribution women make to its business every day. But while our employees are already seeing first-hand what an exciting place the rail industry is to work, the stark reality is that many women outside the industry continue to view it as a male-dominated environment that they might not belong to.
RAIL magazine’s supplement is a fantastic initiative which is helping to change that perception, and Siemens is delighted to be co-sponsoring the 2018 edition. By promoting rail as an attractive career and celebrating the achievements of those already transforming the UK’s railways, initiatives such as this supplement can help us to make real progress in not only attracting and retaining more women, but also bringing people from all walks of life into rail.
We are strong believers in raising the profile of trailblazers in the industry to create role models that inspire the next generation. We are proud to be featuring our year 2 apprentice Sarah Hill in the supplement, a choice which we hope will help to encourage other young people and particularly women to consider a career in rail.
By sponsoring the supplement , Siemens is proud to support and champion the many talented people who are leading the way in the industry, and hope that this year’s edition sends a strong and positive message to women both inside and outside the industry about what can be achieved in this dynamic and exciting sector. Gordon Wakeford Managing Director, Siemens Mobility UK
As Hitachi Rail grows as a company, with our factory in the North East and depots around the country, we are building a team like no other. Our dynamic and committed employees will be driving change for years to come, and it is essential that this workforce is diverse. With a society that is 50/50 male and female, we have to question why our industry hasn’t caught up with this? What are the barriers to women becoming leaders, engineers, designers of the future?
At Hitachi we work with schools, colleges and universities to promote rail as an exciting industry in which to work. This initiative is vital in creating a long-lasting legacy for rail in the UK, and putting a new generation forward to deliver pioneering projects.
Our outreach programme includes bringing more women into the industry who may not have thought that a career in rail would be right for them. I have a personal passion that drives empowerment for women, developing leadership career paths and offering flexible working solutions. This includes job-shares and initiatives tailored for everyone - from the shop floor to our senior leaders, and these reflect our changing society.
Diversity spurs creativity, innovation and high performance, and I’m proud to lead the team at Hitachi Rail. Each day I welcome more and more women into the business across all levels and locations.
When I started my career in rail things were very different, and looking back on the changes we have made in just the last 20 years is refreshing. However, we all have a long way to go and we know we have challenges to face - but there has never been a better time for women to take responsibility and drive their careers forward. I hope by collaborating as one industry, we can inspire the next generation of women into our world. Karen Boswell OBE CAO (Hitachi Rail) and Managing Director (Hitachi Rail Europe)
Now is an exciting time to join the rail industry.
Britain’s railway, a partnership of the public and private sectors, unveiled ambitious plans in October to attract new talent and to secure more than 100,000 job opportunities across the country in rail and its supply chain. The partnership railway’s In Partnership for Britain’s
Prosperity sets out four commitments: to strengthen the economy, improve journeys, boost communities, and provide rewarding careers. The latter will feature rail companies creating more jobs, increasing diversity and providing employees with rewarding careers.
The partnership railway, which has had record investment in recent years, is committed to creating a diverse workforce and increasing the number of women employees by 20% by 2020.
From getting girls from school into science, technology and maths subjects to providing on-the-job training for women returning to work, we aim to boost the number of women in every role from train drivers to board directors.
As part of our ambitious plan to change and improve, we will be investing more than £250m per year in workforce training to improve employee engagement and customer experience.
This investment - coupled with outstanding on-the-job training, great benefits and familyfriendly policies - makes now an ideal time to join the partnership railway.
I would urge women inspired by the case studies in this publication and keen to make a difference in a dynamic, innovative environment not to miss out on great jobs and opportunities in the partnership railway. Paul Plummer Chief Executive, Rail Delivery Group