TRANSPENNINE EXPRESS

TPE highlighted the opportunities available to women within the industry by showcasing the success of “four fantastic females”.

Customer Experience Director Kathryn O’Brien noted: “We have worked hard to break the stereotypes of traditional roles within the rail industry, and we continue to make huge progress in developing a more diverse workforce.”

Through its specialist apprenticeship and graduate schemes, last autumn TPE welcomed 14 apprentices and three graduates, a third of whom were women. This is a figure mirrored within TPE’s overall recruitment in the past 12 months, with women making up 35% of new employees.

Shannon

Pilkington, a Manchester-based control room apprentice who used the scheme to break into the industry, advised: “The apprenticeship is a two-year scheme which includes completing a Level Three in Business Administration and the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award (DofE).

“So far, the experience has been amazing and it has really helped with my confidence. Everyone at TPE is very supportive and all the apprentices are going through the same experiences together.”

Alicja Zdobylak

is a management graduate based within TPE’s operations department. She joined TPE in September 2021 as a part of the graduate scheme which gives university students an introduction to the rail industry.

“Since starting at TPE I have worked on the front line and within an office environment,” she said.

“The exposure I am getting allows me to see the business and wider industry - as a whole, rather than focusing on just one department. This allows me to make smarter business decisions which will not only help me, but in the long run will help the business grow and increase customer satisfaction.”

TPE is also supporting inclusive career development with its Step Up and Step Forward programme, which supports increased female representation in management grade roles.

Lisa Yemm,

a resourcing administrator, joined TPE in 2008. She started her rail career as a cleaner for Carlisle Support Services at Manchester Airport station, before moving on to work as a cleaner at TPE’s training centre, where she was offered a secondment to work as an administrator for the Learning and Development team.

Her railway career then further developed when TPE’s human resources director nominated her for the Step Up and Step Forward Programme.

“I work with an amazing team that supports, encourages and gives me the confidence to believe in myself. They always push me to do my best!” she said. Emma Teale, TPE’s recently appointed Head of Customer Insights and Improvement, said: “Previously, as Customer Experience Manager, I was very lucky to be able to learn a lot that put me in a great position to further my career. I had a great mentor - and cheerleader - within the business and this helped me massively.

“I’m really excited for the next stage in my career. I’m also very lucky to be surrounded by an excellent team.”