Mavish Mehmood
Graduate, Network Rail
Graduate, Network Rail
“The best thing is knowing that you’re making a difference on a larger scale”
“I’ve only been here eight months, but it’s really good!”
Having only started on Network Rail’s General Management Scheme for graduates in September 2017, Mavish Mehmood is real newbie to the railway but, even in that short time, her tenacious personality is already making an impact on the network.
“At entry level you think you’re only going to be doing small tasks, but I’ve been given the opportunity to go out on track, see what the issues are, where we can save money and actually do something that will make a difference, and then getting the recognition for it as well. It’s great how Network Rail realises that even at entry level, young people are capable. You worry that you might not be taken seriously but I’ve not had that experience. It’s been the complete opposite.”
Mavish graduated with a degree in Business Management and never planned for a career on the railway. She originally joined a graduate scheme with a car rental firm for a year, but she found the sales-based, target-driven environment didn’t suit her and wanted to join an industry where she felt she was contributing to something important.
“I was looking at other graduate schemes and I came across Network Rail. I knew I wanted to go into projects and that Network Rail was involved in some really big infrastructure projects in the UK that actually mean something to the economy and give something back to society. I thought it would be a great opportunity to get involved.”
The scheme Mavish is on gives her the flexibility to pick her own placements across the business to learn about the specific areas that interest her. Network Rail considers applicants with a degree in any subject and then gives successful candidates the opportunity to develop their knowledge of any aspect of the railway, from safety and station management to performance, finance and operations.
“With a graduate placement, shifts vary depending on what you choose. So if I wanted to go and do station management, I would be on a shift pattern. Mainly because of what I’ve chosen, I’m on normal office hours, but next week I’m going out with a mobile operations manager [otherwise known as MOM] and they work shifts, so I’ll be doing an 0500 to 1400 shift with him and I’ll be out on the track all day. It was my choice to take that opportunity though.”
Mavish has already been involved in an efficiency project to improve the management of strategic spares for switches and crossings equipment, which will help the company to save money.
“The best thing about it is knowing that what you’re doing is actually making a difference on a larger scale, so you might be doing something really small in the office, but if you’ve done it well, maybe someone else in a different area might adopt it and it will help save money, which can then be invested in different areas of the railway. I like the idea of having a strategic view of things and working on a long-term solution.
“My dream job on the railway would still be something involved in infrastructure projects. I love helping to take a concept and making it a reality. When I come off the graduate scheme I’d like to go into projects, be involved in their early stages, and then see them being delivered and making a difference to millions of people - that’s my dream.”
Even after only a short time in the industry, Mavish is keen to encourage others to start a career in rail and has been extolling the benefits of its dynamic environment to her friends, one of whom has just secured a place on a graduate scheme with FirstGroup.
“I told her about the culture in the industry. Network Rail promotes a balance between personal life and work, mental health and wellbeing, and driving diversity and inclusion. Obviously it’s quite a male-dominated environment but they are working hard to encourage more women into the business and they’re doing a lot to drive that change. It’s just a great place to be.” n