Emma Silver
Special Adviser to the Transport Secretary, Department for Transport
In RAIL 852 (May 2018), we published a very special supplement called The New Transformers, profiling some of the inspirational women who are instrumental in creating a 21st century railway. If you didn’t see it at the time, you can download a copy from the
RAIL website by following this link: http://bit.ly/TheNewTransformers. The project was conceived not only to celebrate and highlight the incredible achievements of many hard-working women in the rail industry, but also to inspire the next generation as they choose their career path. We brought together 18 women for a photoshoot on the famous Grand Staircase at the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel and published the photographs along with their inspiring stories.
The rail industry is brimming with talented individuals, male and female, who often don’t receive the recognition they deserve. So we set about trying to put that right for some of the unsung heroes of the railway.
But the project was also about highlighting the sheer variety of opportunities to work in rail - be it as a lawyer, engineer, project manager, train driver or a host of other roles. One whom we had hoped to focus on in The New Transformers was someone from a political background - Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling’s Special Adviser Emma Silver.
Sadly for us, the demands of Emma’s role meant that she was unable to join us for the project at the time. So we agreed to follow up with her later to find out how she ended up as a ‘SpAd’, and learn what it’s like working at the Department for Transport… Politics come into play frequently on the railway, providing all sorts of important and interesting roles, especially to people who wouldn’t otherwise have chosen a career in rail.
“Rail is part of my brief at the Department for Transport. I work across all modes, but rail definitely takes up most of my time and I find it very rewarding. It’s not something I ever thought I’d be doing, but it’s been one of the most fascinating parts of my job.”
Emma Silver has been special adviser to Transport Secretary Chris Grayling since the summer of 2016, advising him on policy and communications across all modes of transport. Her role is similar to that of a civil servant, but she is allowed to be party political, which civil servants aren’t.
As a child, Emma wanted to be a journalist and did a journalism degree at Edinburgh University. But after a few years spent in the media she decided to pursue a career in politics, which is what brought her
to the railway.
“I am doing my dream job at the moment. It sounds silly, but it’s a great privilege to work in this role and to play a part in some of the amazing projects we’re doing, such as the Ordsall Chord, Northern Powerhouse Rail and Crossrail. All these things will still be around long into the future and it’s really nice to be part of something that leaves a lasting legacy.
“Some of the problems in rail can be quite challenging, but I enjoy the complex problem-solving that comes with it. It’s something that’s so tangible - you can look at massive rail infrastructure projects and they’re making a huge difference to people’s lives, giving people better journeys. It’s really satisfying when it goes right!”
Known for her focused and determined attitude, Emma is a truly goal-orientated individual. Despite her role not offering much job security (she’d lose her position if a new government was voted in), she loves that she gets to be a part of long-term projects - even those that might not come to fruition until long after she has moved on.
“When you step back and look at the rail network that we have in this country, it’s quite amazing that some of it has been around for a very long time and is still getting people to work every day. It’s one of those things that was built to last. In the modern age, where everything is so disposable and instant, the railway has stood the test of time.
“I would like to still stay involved in the industry if I could. I never thought I’d work in rail, but now I’ve seen it the people and the projects really interest me. So while I don’t know what I’ll be doing in five or ten years’ time, it will be interesting to see if rail is a part of it. Also, I don’t think you ever really leave this job. I’m still going to think about the work I did in rail every time I get on the train.”
When Emma was at university, the railway was still very much a male-dominated environment. While that is still the case in many ways, she’s pleased that there are a lot more female role models now, to inspire more women to see it as an industry they could work in.
She admits that her job is sometimes so busy that she is rushed off her feet. Finding a comfortable work-life balance can be a challenge.
“I think it’s so important to step back from the day-to-day ‘hamster wheel’ of it all, and not to let the job run you. That gives you the time to think strategically, rather than getting stuck on details.
“I also have the ability to power-nap on trains, which is a definite benefit. I sometimes struggle to sleep at night if my mind is racing with everything that has been going on at work, but when I do sleep I can sleep almost anywhere. Luckily my boss is extremely tolerant of my ability to power-nap and he just lets me get on with it on the train. He knows it’s better to let me sleep or I’ll be grumpy!”
Emma got married last year and says that her “very patient” husband is understanding of her busy career.
“He thinks I’m a bit bonkers and have gone train-mad now! The moment he said he knew I’d fallen for the job was when I came home and told him that I’d applied for a Two Together Railcard. Those who rail together, stay together!”
In the modern age, where everything is so disposable and instant, the railway has stood the test of time.