LNER
Leading the charge towards diversity across the rail industry LNER’s Abu Siddeeq on the need for open, honest leaders who prioritise how their people feel
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ail is one of many industries championing diversity and inclusion in the workplace and looking at how best to attract and retain a more diverse workforce. Influencing change and creating a space in which discussing, questioning and challenging attitudes towards diversity across the industry is, at times, an uncomfortable task. Winning the hearts and minds of a future workforce is, however, vital. Some people are cut out for leading the charge on this important work and Abu Siddeeq, Head of Customer Experience at LNER, is certainly one of them. Abu, who lives in Essex, is an Asian Glaswegian. He has worked in rail for seven years, holding positions with Great Western and First Group prior to moving to LNER in January 2020, with another six years in transport at Transport for London before that. Workplace bias Abu has encountered racism in various guises and seen the impact of conscious and unconscious bias in the workplace. He is a member of the Women in Rail Board, was winner of the Women in Rail Inspirational Man of the Year Award in 2019 and is passionate about opening up opportunities in rail. Abu said: “It’s really positive that we’ve unearthed data and stories around underrepresentation of various groups across the industry. It’s through that data and insight that we can truly start to target the issues that some
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